ORDERS:
ORDER OF DISMISSAL
Pursuant to this tribunal's order of July 6, 2000, each party was required to file prehearing statements with the Administrative Law
Judge Division and serve all parties within fifteen (15) days of the order. However, the Petitioner,Melissa Lopez, has not responded to
the order for prehearing statements or to a letter dated August 7, 2000.. ALJD Rule 23 provides:
The administrative law judge may dismiss a contested case or dispose of a contested case adverse to the defaulting party. A default
occurs when a party fails to plead or otherwise prosecute or defend, fails to appear at a hearing without the proper consent of the
judge or fails to comply with any interlocutory order of the administrative law judge. Any non-defaulting party may move for an order
dismissing the case or terminating it adversely to the defaulting party.
ALJD Rule 23 (1997) (emphasis added).
By virtue of the Petitioner's request for a contested case, she has an obligation to defend her position. Petitioner has not requested an
extension or enlargement of time pursuant to ALJD Rule 3B to comply with this tribunal's order, but rather has been unresponsive to
all communications. Petitioner has been given abundant opportunity to comply. "There is a limit beyond which the court should not
allow a litigant to consume the time of the court...." Georganne Apparel, Inc. v Todd, 303 S.C. 87, 92, 399 S.E.2d 16, 19 (Ct. App.
1990).
IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED that the above-captioned case is hereby dismissed with prejudice.
AND IT IS SO ORDERED.
CAROLYN C. MATTHEWS
Administrative Law Judge
August 22, 2000
Columbia, South Carolina. |