Mo. Rev. Stat. § 517.051
517.051 When case to be tried.
517.051. When case to be tried. — Every case shall be tried upon the return date of the summons, when the summons has been duly and timely served, or on a date to which the case has been continued.
(L. 1985 S.B. 5, et al.) Effective 1-01-87