Opinion ID: 2449099
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Latham's Claims For Damages Are Precluded By Collateral Estoppel.

Text: Collateral estoppel, or issue preclusion, bars the relitigation of issues actually determined in [earlier] proceedings. [4] We require four elements before applying collateral estoppel: (1) the party against whom the preclusion is employed was a party to or in privity with a party to the first action; (2) the issue precluded from relitigation is identical to the issue decided in the first action; (3) the issue was resolved in the first action by a final judgment on the merits; and (4) the determination of the issue was essential to the final judgment.[ [5] ] It has been conclusively litigated that the 1995 changes to AS 12.55.120(a) did not injure Latham in any way. In Latham's class action lawsuit, we framed the question as whether the 1995 changes prevented him from seeking review of the superior court's decision to add a year to his probation. [6] In denying Latham's application for post-conviction relief, the superior court determined that Latham would have been unable to appeal his sentence as excessive under either the pre-1995 version of AS 12.55.120(a) or the post-1995 version. [7] The court of appeals agreed with this ruling, [8] and we denied Latham's petition for review. [9] Although the state actor defendants in Latham's application for post-conviction relief and class action lawsuit were different, Latham was a party in both actions, and he is the party against whom preclusion is sought. [10] Thus, because Latham was a party to the earlier litigation, the first element of collateral estoppel has been satisfied. The second element, identity of issues, is satisfied because the issue in his earlier litigation is a necessary component of Latham's claims in this case. Latham's claims are predicated on the theory that the 1995 legislative change harmed him. He claims damages as compensation for injury done to him by the 1995 change. But he is not entitled to compensation if there was no injury. Latham's § 1983 claims are similarly predicated on injury. 42 U.S.C. § 1983 provides that government officials shall be liable to the party injured. Here, it has been established that Latham was not injured by the 1995 legislative change. Because Latham's claims are premised on this injury, they are barred by collateral estoppel. The third element of collateral estoppel has been satisfied because the question whether the 1995 change harmed Latham has been decided. The resolution of that issue was necessary to the final judgment dismissing Latham's action, satisfying the fourth element. Therefore, the court of appeals' ruling that Latham was not injured by the 1995 legislation bars Latham from further lawsuits based on harm arising from the alleged unconstitutionality of the legislation. [11]