Art. 1672.  Involuntary dismissal

A.(1)  A judgment dismissing an action shall be rendered upon application of any party, when the plaintiff fails to appear on the day set for trial.  In such case, the court shall determine whether the judgment of dismissal shall be with or without prejudice.

(2)  The court, on its own motion, may dismiss an action without prejudice when all the parties thereto fail to appear on the day set for trial; however, when a case has been dismissed pursuant to this provision and it is claimed that there is a pending settlement, either party may reinstate the suit within sixty days of receipt of the notice of dismissal, and any cause of action which had not prescribed when the case was originally filed shall be fully reinstated as though the case had never been dismissed.

B.  In an action tried by the court without a jury, after the plaintiff has completed the presentation of his evidence, any party, without waiving his right to offer evidence in the event the motion is not granted, may move for a dismissal of the action as to him on the ground that upon the facts and law, the plaintiff has shown no right to relief.  The court may then determine the facts and render judgment against the plaintiff and in favor of the moving party or may decline to render any judgment until the close of all the evidence.

C.  A judgment dismissing an action without prejudice shall be rendered as to a person named as a defendant for whom service has not been requested within the time prescribed by Article 1201(C) or 3955 upon the sustaining of a declinatory exception filed by such defendant, or upon contradictory motion of any other party, unless good cause is shown why service could not be requested, in which case the court may order that service be effected within a specified time.

Acts 1983, No. 534, §9; Acts 1997, No. 518, §2, eff. Jan. 1, 1998; Acts 1997, No. 1058, §1; Acts 2006, No. 750, §1; Acts 2010, No. 407, §1.