South Carolina              
Administrative Law Court
Edgar A. Brown building 1205 Pendleton St., Suite 224 Columbia, SC 29201 Voice: (803) 734-0550

SC Administrative Law Court Decisions

CAPTION:
John L. Beckham vs. SCDHEC, et al

AGENCY:
South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control

PARTIES:
Petitioner:
John L. Beckham

Respondent:
South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control and Holton Farms, Inc.
 
DOCKET NUMBER:
99-ALJ-07-0358-CC

APPEARANCES:
n/a
 

ORDERS:

ORDER OF DISMISSAL

Pursuant to this tribunal's Order of June 27, 1999, 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. The Petitioner, however, has not responded to the Order for Prehearing Statements nor to a letter dated August 18, 1999. 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 (1998).

By virtue of the Petitioner's request for a contested case hearing, he has an obligation to defend his 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. Respondent Holton Farms, Inc., filed a Motion to Dismiss on August 14, 1999. "There is a limit beyond which the court should not allow litigants 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 Respondent Holton Farm's Inc.'s Motion to Dimsiss is granted and the above-captioned case is hereby dismissed with prejudice.

AND IT IS SO ORDERED.





_____________________________________

CAROLYN C. MATTHEWS

Administrative Law Judge





August 31, 1999.

Columbia, South Carolina.


Brown Bldg.

 

 

 

 

 

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