Opinion ID: 2218529
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Child Support Is Barred by Res Judicata

Text: Anthony first argues that Gloria's claim for child support arrearages incurred in 1983 and 1984 is barred by the doctrine of res judicata. We agree. The doctrine of res judicata serves as claim preclusion to prevent relitigation of an issue actually litigated or which could have been properly raised and determined in a prior action. Black Hills Jewelry Mfg. Co. v. Felco Jewel Industries, 336 N.W.2d 153, 157 (S.D.1983). See, also, Schmidt v. Zellmer, 298 N.W.2d 178, 180 (S.D.1980). For the purposes of res judicata, a cause of action is comprised of the facts which give rise to, or establish, the right a party seeks to enforce. Nelson v. Hawkeye Security Ins. Co., 369 N.W.2d 379, 381 (S.D.1985); Black Hills Jewelry, 336 N.W.2d, at 157. In applying these rules to Gloria's claim for child support, we must determine whether the wrong sought to be redressed is the same in both actions. Black Hills Jewelry, 336 N.W.2d, at 157. The facts upon which Gloria relies to establish her claim for child support arrearages are the existence of the 1983 Minnesota court order directing Anthony to pay $200 child support per month for Brenda, and Anthony's nonpayment of such support since August, 1983. In 1984, as revealed by the Minnesota court order dated August 28, 1984, according to both of these parties, Anthony had not been paying child support for a full year. The operative facts at the time of the 1984 Minnesota proceeding, by the testimony given at the 1987 show cause hearing in South Dakota, were Anthony's obligation to pay child support for Brenda, and Brenda's emancipation, which Anthony used as justification for his nonpayment of such ordered support. These facts resulted in the Minnesota court's order which ended Anthony's responsibility for child support. They are likewise, the foundation of Gloria's current request for arrearages. Clearly, the wrong addressed in 1984 was Anthony's stoppage of support, the same wrong for which Gloria seeks redress now, as the facts are the same in both the 1984 Minnesota and 1987 South Dakota proceedings. Under Black Hills Jewelry, supra Gloria's claim for child support is barred: Res judicata is premised upon two maxims: A person should not be twice vexed for the same cause and public policy is best served when litigation has a repose. (citation omitted) These maxims are served when the parties have had a fair opportunity to place their claims in prior litigation. (citation omitted). Black Hills Jewelry, 336 N.W.2d, at 157. We reject Gloria's argument that res judicata does not apply for the simple reason that Anthony's nonpayment of child support was an existing fact which was either known or should have been known and litigated in the 1984 Minnesota action. See, e.g., Nelson, 369 N.W.2d, at 381. She has had her day in court. This Court wrote, in Keith v. Willers Truck Service, 64 S.D. 274, 266 N.W. 256 (1936): There is a difference between the effect of a judgment as a bar or estoppel against the prosecution of a second action upon the same claim or demand, and its effect as an estoppel in another action between the same parties upon a different claim or cause of action. In the former case, the judgment, if rendered upon the merits, constitutes an absolute bar to a subsequent action. It is a finality as the claim or demand in controversy, concluding parties and those in privity with them, not only as to every matter which was offered and received to sustain or defeat the claim or demand, but as to any other admissible matter which might have been offered for that purpose.    `Where it is sought to apply the estoppel of a judgment rendered upon one cause of action to matters arising in a suit upon a different cause of action, the inquiry must always be as to the point or question actually litigated and determined'. Keith, 64 S.D., at 275-6, 266 N.W., at 257 (quoting, in part, Cromwell v. County of Sac, 94 U.S. (4 Otto) 351, 352, 24 L.Ed. 195, 198 (1876)). Here, Gloria's 1987 child support claim in South Dakota was occasioned by the same facts as her 1984 Minnesota claim, and, essentially, constituted the same cause of action. We note, in this regard, that Minnesota Courts have authority to forgive past child support arrearages, as the Minnesota court did in 1984. See, e.g., Stich v. Stich, 435 N.W.2d 848 (Minn.App.1989); LaValle v. LaValle, 430 N.W.2d 224 (Minn.App. 1988); Young v. Young, 356 N.W.2d 823 (Minn.App.1984). The Minnesota court thus had jurisdiction to rule as it did, a requirement for application of the doctrine of res judicata. See, Black Hills Jewelry, 336 N.W.2d, at 157. In reaching our decision, which is consistent with the import of the two letters penned by the Minnesota court, we do not rely on those letters. These letters, as statements, other than one made by the declarant while testifying at the trial or hearing, offered in evidence to prove the truth of the matter asserted, are hearsay as defined by SDCL 19-16-1. We do, however, take note of Gloria's testimony, at the 1987 show cause hearing, to the effect that she came to the South Dakota courts because the Minnesota judge was unfair. This indicates forum-shopping on her part. Also, the record below, specifically reflected by Gloria's affidavit in support of her motion to show cause, contains an allegation that she was entitled to child support for Brenda from January to July of 1985, after the Minnesota court determined Brenda to be emancipated. This reinforces our conviction that Gloria was attempting to relitigate issues decided in 1984. The trial court's decision regarding child support is, therefore, reversed. II. STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS