Tap any paragraph to write a margin note. Your notes collect in the Desk below the text and file under cases with @. The side-by-side margin rail opens on a larger screen.

Code · Montana · Title 25 — Civil Procedure · Chapter 23 · Part 1

Rule 16.

214 words·~1 min read·/mt/title-25/chapter-23/part-1/16·

A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.

Rule 16 . Failure to appear or proceed.
A. DEFENDANT. If a defendant, who has been properly served, fails to appear at the time fixed for trial, the trial may proceed at the request of the adverse party or parties.
B. PLAINTIFF. If a plaintiff fails to appear at the time fixed for trial, the judge shall dismiss the plaintiff's claim with prejudice and award costs to the defendant. The trial may proceed on any other pending claims of any other parties.
C. TIME. If a party fails to pursue disposition of a matter filed in a justice or city court in a timely manner, the court may, on it's own motion, dismiss the matter without prejudice. A dismissal at the court's discretion under this Rule 16C must be by written notice of the court to all parties and may not be made for at least 90 days after the last action. The notice must state that unless good cause is shown by a party or a party's attorney within 30 days of the court's notice, the matter must be dismissed without prejudice. If good cause is shown, in writing, by a party or a party's attorney, the court may set the matter for trial and no dismissal may be entered by the court.
★   the supreme law of the land   ★
Don't Tread on Me
E Pluribus Unum — out of many, one

"If you don't know your rights, you don't have any."

Marginalia · a citizen's law index
A research desk, not legal advice. Always read the cited source before relying on a summary.
Questions or an issue? support@self-law.org
disclaimerMarginalia is a research index, not a law firm. Nothing on this site is legal, tax, or financial advice and no attorney–client relationship is formed by using it. Statutes, regulations, and case law change; summaries, search results, AI output, and member posts may be incomplete, out of date, or wrong. Any interpretation drawn from material on this site should be validated by a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction before you act on it.