Opinion ID: 1165369
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: legal capacity.

Text: The requirement that a party be in the same or similar legal capacity in a suit relates to the fundamental precept that a person cannot be bound by a judgment unless he has had reasonable notice of the claim against him and an opportunity to be heard in opposition to that claim. Drickersen v. Drickersen, 546 P.2d 162, 170 (Alaska 1976) (footnote omitted); accord Blonder-Tongue v. University Foundation, 402 U.S. 313, 91 S.Ct. 1434, 28 L.Ed.2d 788 (1971); Restatement (Second) of Judgments § 34 reporter's note (1980); see also id. § 36; F. James & G. Hazard, Civil Procedure § 11.6 (2d ed. 1977); Annot., 170 A.L.R. 1180 (1947). Although Emmert was sued in different legal capacities in both cases, we do not see how this affects the lawsuit between Three Rivers and Maddoux. Three Rivers' and Maddoux's legal capacities did not change in Case I and Case II. Moreover, Three Rivers cannot point to any prejudice suffered or show that the change in Emmert's legal capacity has any bearing on the suit against Maddoux. We therefore find Three Rivers' argument unpersuasive. The legal capacity element of res judicata is met.