Rule 16-II.Failure to Appear for Conference

Group III: Pleadings and Motions · Last amended 2017 · Last verified July 14, 2026

In one sentenceRule 16-II lets a DC Superior Court judge enter a default, dismiss the case, or impose another sanction against a party or counsel who fails to appear at a pretrial, settlement, or status conference.

Full Text of Rule 16-II

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If counsel or a self-represented party fails to appear at a pretrial, settlement, or status conference, the court may, where appropriate:

(1) enter a default;

(2) dismiss the case, with or without prejudice; or

(3) take other action, including the imposition of penalties and sanctions.

Comment

Stylistic changes were made to this rule to conform with the 2007 amendments to the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.

Plain-English Summary

Rule 16-II is short, but it backs up every conference deadline in Rule 16 with a real consequence. If counsel or a self-represented party fails to show up for a pretrial, settlement, or status conference, the court has three options, chosen as the situation warrants: enter a default against the absent party, dismiss the case outright, with or without prejudice, or impose some other penalty or sanction it thinks fits the conduct.

The rule does not rank these options or require the court to pick the harshest one. A judge weighing whether a missed conference reflects a one-time scheduling mishap or a pattern of neglect can choose a lighter sanction, while a case where a plaintiff has stopped participating might warrant dismissal, and one where a defendant has gone silent might warrant default. What the rule guarantees is that showing up matters — skipping a scheduled conference is not a cost-free option for either side.

Frequently Asked Questions

What happens if I miss a pretrial conference in a DC civil case?

Rule 16-II lets the court enter a default against you, dismiss the case with or without prejudice, or impose some other sanction, depending on what the circumstances call for.

Can my case be dismissed just for missing a status conference?

Yes. Rule 16-II(2) specifically authorizes dismissal, with or without prejudice, as one possible consequence of failing to appear.

Can a default be entered against me for not showing up?

Yes. Rule 16-II(1) allows the court to enter a default when a party or its counsel fails to appear at a pretrial, settlement, or status conference.

Does this rule apply to settlement conferences, not just pretrial conferences?

Yes. Rule 16-II covers failures to appear at a pretrial, settlement, or status conference alike.

What other sanctions besides default or dismissal might the court use?

Rule 16-II(3) leaves room for the court to take other action it considers appropriate, including the imposition of penalties and sanctions beyond default or dismissal.

Source & verification. Rule text and official Comments are reproduced verbatim from the District of Columbia Superior Court Rules of Civil Procedure, adopted by the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. Last verified July 14, 2026. · Official source

Also known as: dc failure to appear pretrial conferencecase dismissed missing conference dcdefault for not appearing dc superior courtdc rule 16-II sanctions