The settlement agreement determined the car accident caused John's death. Both claims stem from a single group of operative facts, the cause of death, even though the potential causes are several months apart. On the settlement order, John's date of death was listed beneath the accident date of February 7, 1989. The workers' compensation settlement order explicitly provides that part of the consideration for release of the workers' compensation claim was the money received in settlement of the uninsured motorist claim. We also consider answers to interrogatories filed in the uninsured motorist claim.
Parol evidence is admissible to determine whether a claim is barred by res judicata.
In these answers, Carmella alleged the accident caused John's death. Even though the shoulder injury was not mentioned in the settlement agreement, both injuries arose from the same accident and were patent at the time of the settlement. We stress the limited nature of our holding. A settlement award is res judicata as to causation, but not as to the nature and extent of the disability. 180 Ill. App.