Opinion ID: 2569291
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: bringing suit in a representative capacity

Text: Betz correctly argues that he is not barred from bringing suit in his own name after previously bringing suit against the same defendants on behalf of his daughter. When a person files suit in a representative capacity, the doctrine of res judicata does not prevent them from bringing suit in their individual capacity at a later date. 47 Am. Jur.2d. Judgments § 655. See also Restatement (Second) of Judgments § 36 (1982) (a party in an action in one capacity is not bound by or entitled to the benefits or rules of res judicata in a subsequent action in which he appears in another capacity). The parent-child relationship is traditionally excluded from privity notions for res judicata purposes. Thus, children are not bound or concluded by judgments for or against their parents, where they have separate rights or interests, but only where they claim from, through, or under, their parents, or where they are represented in the litigation by their parents or other persons, or where they are adults and have been active in promoting the litigation instituted by their parents. A judgment concerning a minor child is not binding on the parent who is not a party to the proceeding in which it is rendered. 50 C.J.S. Judgments § 876. A parent who sues for consequential damages for harm to themselves resulting from a negligent injury to their minor child is not bound by a judgment rendered in a previous suit where the child brought an action for injury by and through their parent as a representative party. The fact that the parent initiated the suit does not affect the parent's ability to subsequently bring suit on his or her own behalf. 59 Am. Jur.2d Parent and Child § 110. A parent's cause of action against a tortfeasor for his or her own derivative injuries is separate and independent of any cause of action an injured child might have when the child brings the action by and through his or her parent. 43 C.J.S., Infants, § 218; 67A C.J.S., Parent & Child § 138. Generally, courts have concluded that when a parent brings suit on behalf of the parent's minor child, the parent does not relinquish any rights he or she may have and may, thereafter, bring suit in his or her own name against the same defendants for the same injuries as long as the parent does not waive the right to collect specific types of damages which uniquely belong to the parent. In Henry v. Railway Co., 98 Kan. 567, 158 Pac. 857 (1916), the plaintiff brought suit against the defendant for injuries to his minor son. The son had previously brought suit by and through his father against the same defendant arising from the same accident which resulted in a judgment in his favor. The father argued that the principle of res judicata applied and that he should be able to apply the judgment in the previous suit to the second suit brought by him individually. The Henry court disagreed and stated: There must be not only identity in subject-matter, cause of action and parties, but also in the quality of the person for or against whom the claim is made. All others are strangers to the litigation. The plaintiff here is not suing in the same capacity as was the plaintiff in the former action. There the son was the real plaintiff, the father a mere nominal plaintiff. Persons who are mere nominal and not real parties are not bound. Thus, what is known as a `use plaintiff,' that is, where suit is prosecuted by one person for the use of another, it is the latter alone who is bound by the judgment. [Citation omitted]. In case of injury to a minor two causes of action arise: one in favor of the infant for his personal injuries, and one in favor of the parent for loss of services. A party is bound by a judgment only in the same capacity in which he was a party to it. (Emphasis added.) 98 Kan. at 569. See also Balandran v. Compton, 141 Kan. 321, 322, 41 P.2d 720 (1935) (judgment in prior proceeding brought by father on behalf of son did not bar subsequent action brought by father even though both suits arose from the same incident). In the present case, however, the question is whether Betz can bring an individual suit seeking damages for medical expenses and necessities after he had initiated a suit on his daughter's behalf and reached a settlement covering the same damages.