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After an action is commenced, it is said to be pending until termination. While the action is pending, neither party has the right to start another action in a different court over the same dispute or to do any act that would make the court's decision futile.

A lawsuit may be terminated because of dismissal before both sides have fully argued the merits of their cases at trial . It can also be ended because of Compromise and Settlement, after which the plaintiff withdraws his or her action from the court .

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