Opinion ID: 1844465
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Issue Preclusion, Res Judicata, and Double Jeopardy.

Text: Ahmed contends that the contempt order of February 1988 is barred by the doctrines of issue preclusion and res judicata. He also asserts that this hearing constitutes double jeopardy. The basis of each of these challenges is a claim that the contempt hearing in August of 1987 addressed the identical issues as the hearing conducted in February 1988. For issue preclusion or res judicata to apply, the issue that is litigated must be identical to the issue raised in the previous action. See Hunter v. City of Des Moines, 300 N.W.2d 121, 123 (Iowa 1981); In re Marriage of Kurtz, 199 N.W.2d 312, 315 (Iowa 1972). Even assuming former jeopardy principles apply, they were not violated in this case. See State v. Stewart, 223 N.W.2d 250, 251 (Iowa 1974), cert. denied, 423 U.S. 902, 96 S.Ct. 205, 46 L.Ed.2d 134 (1975); see also United States v. Halbrook, 36 F.Supp. 345, 347 (E.D.Mo.1941) (Before a defendant may successfully interpose a plea of double jeopardy, it is necessary that there be an identity of offenses.). The issue addressed in January 1988 was not identical to the issue addressed in August of 1987. In August, the issue was whether Ahmed was in contempt for failing to comply with the temporary custody order of February 10, 1987, and the consent order of May 20, 1987. The January 1988 contempt hearing addressed Ahmed's failure to comply with or to make reasonable efforts to comply with the dissolution decree of November 4, 1987. The finding of contempt in February 1988 dealt with a court order and many facts that were not in existence in August 1987. Because the hearings involved facts and issues that were not identical, issue preclusion, res judicata, and double jeopardy do not prevent the enforcement of the February 1988 order. This holding does not conflict with Clark v. Glanton, 370 N.W.2d 606, 608 (Iowa App.1985). In Clark, the court of appeals applied issue preclusion to a finding of contempt. The court of appeals stated that time was not an issue in either contempt action. Id. Here, the passage of time and the events that occurred after the final decree was entered are at the center of the controversy.