Opinion ID: 2335410
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Preclusive Effect of 2004 Bretz Law Firm Disqualification

Text: Judge Rome also referenced res judicata as influential in his 2009 decision, and Sellers leaned heavily upon it in his appellate brief. Having ruled that Mann could not be disqualified in 2004, we examine only whether the imputed 2004 disqualification of the Bretz law firm, unchallenged on this appeal, exerted some preclusive effect in the 2009 dispute over Mann's status. For the sake of completeness, and because preclusion is inextricably intertwined with the interlocutory appeal questions certified for our review, see Williams v. Lawton, 288 Kan. 768, Syl. ¶ 5, 207 P.3d 1027 (2009), we examine the potential applicability of res judicata, collateral estoppel, and law of the case doctrine. See Jackson Trak Group, Inc. v. Mid States Port Authority, 242 Kan. 683, 690, 751 P.2d 122 (1988) (res judicata sometimes used as blanket term covering res judicata, collateral estoppel); Knowles v. Fleetwood Motorhomes of California, Inc., 40 Kan.App.2d 573, 577, 194 P.3d 38 (2008) (same).