Opinion ID: 2260854
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: The issues and claims raised in the second lawsuit are the same as those raised in the motion for contempt.

Text: Angleton argues that there was no identity of claims (for res judicata or claim preclusion purposes) nor identity of issues (for collateral estoppel or issue preclusion purposes). First, he makes the point that all of the disputed transactions occurred after final settlement of the first action became effective on November 27, 2002, and most occurred after the action was dismissed on December 3, 2002. He also argues that damages for the breach of the settlement agreement were not before the court as such in the contempt hearing held on March 4, 2003. Both of these points miss the mark. By filing a contempt motion in which he asked the court to consider damages, asking the court to hold a hearing on damages, and then accepting that the court could make that decision on the affidavits, Angleton clearly raised a claim for damages from the breach of the settlement agreement. Angleton even pointed to the same affidavits submitted with the contempt motion as his evidence in the second action on summary judgment that the plaintiffs suffered actual damages. Alaska Statute 09.50.040 authorizes, though it does not require, a trial court to award indemnification damages to a party harmed by a civil contempt. [12] The statute provides that where an indemnification award is made and accepted, the aggrieved party is barred from later claims for the same harm. [13] Therefore, Cox satisfies the elements of identity of claims and identity of issues.