Dragonlance Dragonlance Lawsuit Dismissed Without Prejudice

The recent lawsuit brought against D&D publishers Wizards of the Coast by Dragonlance authors Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman has been voluntarily dismissed without prejudice.

When a lawsuit is dismissed with prejudice, it means that the plaintiff cannot bring the issue back to court. When -- as in this case -- it is dismissed without prejudice, the plaintiff can try again.

In this case it was voluntarily dismissed by Weis & Hickman. We can only guess why; perhaps a settlement occurred? In any case, Margaret Weis tweeted, thanking people for their support, and hinting at exciting news to come.

"Pursuant to Rule 41(a)(1)(A)(i) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, Plaintiff Margaret Weis, LLC and Tracy Hickman hereby gives notice that the above-captioned action is voluntarily dismissed as to Wizards of the Coast LLC, without prejudice. Defendant Wizards of the Coast LLC has not filed an answer or motion for summary judgment, no proceedings or discovery have been undertaken as to these claims, and this action is not subject to any federal statute which would preclude the dismissal of this action under Rule 41(a)(1)(A)(i)."

 

[MidnightBlue]

Heh...I find it a little funny that some folks are discounting the viability of a Dragonlance revival because there haven't been new books recently. Don't we have a Lord of the Rings series coming out soon...and a new edition/version of The One Ring RPG? When were those source novels written?

 

[Alzrius]

Heh...I find it a little funny that some folks are discounting the viability of a Dragonlance revival because there haven't been new books recently. Don't we have a Lord of the Rings series coming out soon...and a new edition/version of The One Ring RPG? When were those source novels written?

Actually, J. R. R. Tolkien has a new Middle-Earth book coming out next year. And it's only been a little over two years since the last one came out.

 

[Umbran]

Actually, J. R. R. Tolkien has a new Middle-Earth book coming out next year. And it's only been a little over two years since the last one came out.

Now, do you have an argument that said book is the basis for the current and continued popularity? Because otherwise, you are poking a hole in the letter of someone's argument, but not in the spirit of that argument, which may be pleasantly pedantic, but doesn't increase understanding.

 

[Alzrius]

Now, do you have an argument that said book is the basis for the current and continued popularity? Because otherwise, you are poking a hole in the letter of someone's argument, but not in the spirit of that argument, which may be pleasantly pedantic, but doesn't increase understanding.

Well duh.

 

[Umbran]

Given how many people think a decent discussion works by Calvinball rules....

 

[MGibster]

It looks like they came to an amicable agreement and I'm happy for that. That's good enough for me. (I'm not even a Dragonlance fan. I've never forgiven them for the creation of the Kender.)

 

[MarkB]

Maybe they withdrew their original lawsuit in order to file a class action lawsuit in concert with Gale Force 9.

 

[Umbran]

Maybe they withdrew their original lawsuit in order to file a class action lawsuit in concert with Gale Force 9.

Class action suits are typically for when you have, say 40 individual claimants harmed by the same cause, not two corporate ones that each have separate contractual issues.