dismissal of action

Termination of a civil action on a successful application (made during or at the end of a trial) by the defendant that the action be dismissed. Such applications often succeed where breach of some rule of procedure occurs, or where the plaintiff is guilty of inexcusable, inordinate, and prejudicial delay. In certain jurisdictions, a matter may be dismissed either without prejudice (where the plaintiff may sue again on the same claim or cause) or with prejudice (where the plaintiff may not).