William Doolan v Hugh William Blennerhassett

The case of William Doolan against Hugh William Blennerhassett involves a dispute that was initiated in 2020. The proceedings have been marked by a significant delay of more than two years, during which no steps were taken. In response, Blennerhassett sought to dismiss the proceedings on the basis of a lack of prosecution, while Doolan applied for leave to proceed with a new step in the litigation process. The court was tasked with determining whether the applicants' explanation for the delay was reasonable and if leave to proceed should be granted.

The central legal issue before the court was whether the delay in the proceedings could be justified, given the factors presented by Doolan. These included the unusual circumstance of a threat made by Blennerhassett, which allegedly caused a significant pause in the litigation, as well as the tardiness of the former legal representatives. The court had to balance the need for the proceedings to move forward against the potential prejudice to Blennerhassett if the delay was not sufficiently explained.

The court concluded that the delay, while not extreme, was sufficiently explained by the combination of factors presented. The threat made by Blennerhassett, although unusual, was accepted as a valid reason for halting the litigation, as it would understandably cause anyone to withdraw from the proceedings temporarily. Additionally, the tardiness of the former lawyers contributed to the delay. Considering these explanations and the relatively moderate prejudice to Blennerhassett, the court found that Doolan should be granted leave to proceed. Consequently, Blennerhassett’s application to dismiss the proceedings was dismissed.

The court ordered that Doolan and his co-applicants have leave to proceed with the litigation. The respondent's application filed on 17 July 2025 was dismissed, and the court scheduled a future hearing to address the issue of costs.