Opinion ID: 900705
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Joinder and Preclusion

Text: ¶ 45 In this case, the circuit court joined the divorce and tort actions in the same trial. This is permissible, but not mandatory. Circuit courts have general jurisdiction to hear all civil actions. S.D.Const. art. V § 1. Trial courts should carefully consider in each case whether to hear the tort and the divorce in the same trial. To avoid prejudice and maintain efficiency, courts have the discretion to order separate trials in these proceedings. SDCL 15-6-42(b). In many instances, a joinder of both actions will run contrary to considerations of public policy. Stuart v. Stuart, 143 Wis.2d 347, 421 N.W.2d 505, 508 (1988). When a divorce is brought on irreconcilable differences, joinder of an intentional tort claim defeats the legislative intent in enacting no-fault divorce. Tort actions seek to compensate the injured and sometimes to punish the wrongdoer; divorce actions aim to provide for support, divide marital property, and restore the parties to unmarried status. A tort claim may include facts irrelevant to divorce issues, numerous witnesses, and other parties, such as joint tortfeasors. Combining tort claims with a divorce action may unduly lengthen and complicate a trial and result in delayed child custody and support rulings. Id. Obviously, if a jury trial is demanded, the court will have to separate the trials. ¶ 46 On the other hand, counsel must be aware that these matters are subject to the principles of preclusion through res judicata and estoppel. Res judicata consists of two preclusion concepts: issue preclusion and claim preclusion. Migra v. Warren City School Dist. Bd. of Educ., 465 U.S. 75, 77 n. 1, 104 S.Ct. 892, 79 L.Ed.2d 56 (1984). Issue preclusion forecloses relitigation of matters tried and decided. Restatement (Second) of Judgments §§ 24, 27. Claim preclusion forecloses litigation of matters never litigated, but that should have been asserted in a prior action. Lee v. Rapid City Area Sch. Dist., 526 N.W.2d 738, 740 (S.D.1995) (citations omitted). Estoppel may also preclude a later tort action. See generally Gesinger v. Gesinger, 531 N.W.2d 17, 21 (S.D.1995). ¶ 47 South Dakota is not a pure no-fault divorce state. See SDCL 25-4-2. If a divorce trial implicates matters of fault, such as extreme cruelty, then res judicata may preclude a later tort claim. Restatement (Second) of Judgments § 24. If the divorce proceeds on a no-fault basis, i.e. irreconcilable differences, then res judicata or estoppel may not bar a later tort suit. See Henriksen v. Cameron, 622 A.2d 1135 (Me.1993). There is a split of authority on this question. In Tevis v. Tevis, the New Jersey Supreme Court barred a tort suit by an ex-spouse because the single controversy doctrine and efficiency necessitated that the tort claim be resolved during the divorce suit. 79 N.J. 422, 400 A.2d 1189 (1979). On the other hand, courts in Colorado, Utah, and Arizona came to the opposite conclusion. Simmons v. Simmons, 773 P.2d 602 (Colo.Ct.App.1988); Windauer v. O'Connor, 107 Ariz. 267, 485 P.2d 1157 (1971); Walther v. Walther, 709 P.2d 387 (Utah 1985). An Ohio appeals court, in Koepke v. Koepke , ruled that the concern for judicial economy does not outweigh the fact that a domestic relations forum is not the proper forum in which to litigate a tort claim. 52 Ohio App.3d 47, 556 N.E.2d 1198, 1200 (1989). ¶ 48 Contingency fees are common in tort actions. But the South Dakota Rules of Professional Conduct prohibit any fee in a domestic relations matter, the payment or amount of which is contingent upon the securing of a divorce or upon the amount of alimony or support, or property settlement in lieu thereof.... See SDCL 16-18 (Rule 1.5(d)(1)). In Simmons, supra, the court considered the problem of apportioning attorneys' fees to be an additional policy reason for rejecting joinder. Combining divorce and tort claims presents difficulties in allotting time and fees in client billings. What part of the award results from the divorce claim as distinct from the intentional infliction of emotional distress claim? ¶ 49 I concur on the other issues in the majority opinion.