CHAPTER 621

An Act to amend and reenact § 8-154 of the Code of Virginia, relating
to the striking of certain cases from the docket and their reinstate-
ment, and to repeal § 8-144 of the Code of Virginia, relating to dis-
missal of suits and actions when lis pendens has been TOOT eT 858]

Approved April 6, 1954

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That § 8-154 of the Code of Virginia be amended and reenacted as
follows:

§ 8-154. Any court in which is pending a case wherein for more
than two years there has been no order or proceeding, except to con-
tinue it, may, in its discretion, order it to be struck from its docket;
and it shal] thereby be discontinued. A court making such order may
direct it to be published in such newspaper as it may designate. The
clerk of the court shall notify the parties in interest if known, or their
counsel of record, if living, at his last known address, at least fifteen
days before the entry of such order of dismissal so that all parties may
have an opportunity to be heard on it. Any court in which is pending a
case wherein for more than five years there has been no order or pro-
ceeding, except to continue it, may, in its discretion, order it to be struck
from its docket; and it shall thereby be discontinued. Any case dismissed
under the provisions of this section may be reinstated, on motion, and
after notice to the parties in interest if known or their counsel of record,
within one year from the date of such order but not after. Upon the
dismissal of any case under the provisions of this section where there has
been a lis pendens filed and recorded in such action or suit the clerk
shall, upon being furnished with the extract of judgment or a certified
copy of the extract, note such dismissal on the margin of the page of the
deed book where the lis pendens has been recorded.

2. § 8-144 of the Code of Virginia is repealed.