Tennessee Agreed Order to Continue the Hearing on Motion to Dismiss

Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 16(b) mandates that the judge issue a scheduling order in most forms of civil action within 120 days after the complaint is filed.

The judge will either grant or deny the motion. If it is granted, the case is over and the defendant wins. If the motion is denied, as it usually is, the defense is given the opportunity to present its evidence.

When a judge denies a defendant's motion to dismiss, the case will continue because defendant did not convince the judge to terminate the case.When students read a U.S. court decision where a judge denies a motion to dismiss, it may appear that the judge is ruling that the plaintiff won her case.

In effect, in both kinds of cases, the lawyer asks the judge to direct a verdict for the defendant. The judge will either grant or deny the motion. If it is granted, the case is over and the defendant wins. If the motion is denied, as it usually is, the defense is given the opportunity to present its evidence.

(FRCP 12(h)(1).) Some courts require pre-answer motions to dismiss to be made within 21 days of service of the complaint. Other courts require only that they be made before the deadline for filing responsive pleadings, whether that deadline is within 21 days or later.

At or after the hearing, the judge will make a decision on the motion. The judge might write an order on the motion herself. Or she might direct one of the parties to prepare the order for her signature. An order is the written decision or judgment that grants or denies the motion.

Each judge has her/his own habits and it's difficult to speak to the speed of a judge outside of my personal experience. But as a general rule, you can expect a decision in this type of matter in anywhere from 2 weeks to 3 months.

A Motion to Continue is a request by one or both parties in a legal dispute to the Court to extend or reschedule a hearing or trial date to a specified new date.