Opinion ID: 2632481
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Are the Wilsons' claims barred by the doctrine of judicial estoppel?

Text: [¶ 26] Wyoming recognizes the doctrine of judicial estoppel: The principle, while denominated judicial estoppel, is sometimes referred to as a doctrine which estops a party to play fast and loose with the courts or to trifle with judicial proceedings. It is an expression of the maxim that one cannot blow hot and cold in the same breath. A party will just not be allowed to maintain inconsistent positions in judicial proceedings, as here. 31 C.J.S. Estoppel § 117, pp. 624-625. The role of judicial estoppel has been accepted in this state. Hatten Realty Co. v. Baylies, 1930, 42 Wyo. 69, 89-93, 290 P. 561, 72 A.L.R. 587. It was there held that where a man is successful in a position taken in a previous court proceeding, that position rises to the position of conclusiveness. Allen v. Allen, 550 P.2d 1137, 1142 (Wyo. 1976). See also Cross v. Berg Lumber Co., 7 P.3d 922, 930 (Wyo.2000); and In re Parental Rights to ARW, 716 P.2d 353, 355-56 (Wyo.1986), overruled on other grounds by Clark v. Alexander, 953 P.2d 145, 154 (Wyo. 1998). [¶ 27] The district court applied judicial estoppel in the following finding of fact, which also includes a conclusion of law: 20. In the 1990 Consent Decree, Wilsons acknowledged that Lucerne had facilities to divert and distribute water, and that such water flowed down the channel in question. Wilsons are judicially estopped from now claiming that Lucerne has no right to diversion in the North Platte River and has no right to utilize the north channel of the River. [¶ 28] We agree with the district court's application of judicial estoppel to the same extent that we agreed with its application of the doctrines of res judicata and collateral estoppel. The Consent Decree that resolved the 1988 controversy necessarily assumed Lucerne's right to use the channel/canal to carry water from its diversion dam to its headgate. [5] Therefore, the Wilsons are judicially estopped from taking a contrary position. [6] On the other hand, the issues involved in the quiet title action that are now pending, in particular the question of reliction and the resultant ownership of formerly inundated lands, were neither addressed nor resolved in the earlier litigation, and judicial estoppel does not bar the present litigation of those issues.