CO · rules
C.R.C.P. 341 (County Court)
Dismissal of Actions
(a) (1) Subject to the provisions of these rules, an action may be dismissed by the
plaintiff upon payment of costs without order of court (i) by filing notice of dismissal at
any time before filing or service by the adverse party of an answer, whichever first occurs,
or (ii) by filing a stipulation of dismissal signed by all parties who have appeared in the
action. Unless otherwise stated in the notice of dismissal or stipulation, the dismissal is
without prejudice, except that a notice of dismissal operates as an adjudication upon the
merits when filed by a plaintiff who has once dismissed in any court an action based on or
including the same claim.
(2) By Order of Court. Except as provided in subsection (a)(1) of this Rule, an action
shall not be dismissed at the plaintiff’s instance save upon order of the court and upon such
terms and conditions as the court deems proper. If a counterclaim has been pleaded by a
defendant prior to the service upon him of the plaintiff’s motion to dismiss, the action shall
not be dismissed against the defendant’s objection unless the counterclaim can remain
pending for independent adjudication by the court. Unless otherwise specified in the order,
a dismissal under this paragraph is without prejudice.
(b) Involuntary Dismissal.
(1) By Defendant. For failure of the plaintiff to prosecute or to comply with these
rules or any order of court, a defendant may move for dismissal of an action or any claim.
After the completion of the plaintiff’s evidence, the defendant, without waiving the right to
offer evidence in the event that the motion is not granted, may move for a dismissal on the
ground that upon the facts and the law the plaintiff has shown no right to relief. In an
action tried by the court without a jury the court as trier of the facts may then determine
them and render a judgment against the plaintiff or may decline to render any judgment
until the close of all the evidence. Unless the court in its order for dismissal otherwise
specifies, a dismissal under this subdivision and any dismissal not provided for in this
Rule, other than a dismissal for lack of jurisdiction or failure to file a complaint under Rule
303, operates as an adjudication upon the merits.
(2) By the Court. Actions not prosecuted or brought to trial with due diligence may,
upon notice, be dismissed without prejudice unless otherwise specified by the court upon
28 days’ notice in writing to all appearing parties or their counsel of record, unless a party
shows cause in writing within said 28 days why the case should not be dismissed.
(c) Dismissal of Counterclaim or Cross Claim. The provisions of this Rule apply to
the dismissal of a counterclaim or cross claim, except as provided in Rule 313(e).
History
Source: (b) and (c) amended July 22, 1993, effective January 1, 1994; (b)(2) amended and adopted December 14, 2011, effective January 1, 2012, for all cases pending on or filed on or after January 1, 2012, pursuant to C.R.C.P. 1(b). ANNOTATION This rule provides for a plaintiff’s volun- tary dismissal of his action without prejudice if the notice of dismissal is filed before the adverse party files or serves his answer. The provisions of the rule also apply to the dismissal of a counterclaim. Where a reply to a counter- claim was filed after the notice of dismissal was sought, there is no reason why the counterclaim should not be dismissed as a matter of course. Empiregas, Inc., of Pueblo v. County Court, 715 P.2d 937 (Colo. App. 1985).
Provenance
- Source
- content.leg.colorado.gov
- Retrieved
- 2026-09-15
- Edition
- 2026-09-15
- Content hash
5952c2581418010ed0a159980c325bedd715eac86e26248c4d75ea41817dfcbf
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