Opinion ID: 521022
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Amended Counterclaim

Text: 30 The district court held that Fujikawa's amended counterclaim against Kim, which alleged that Kim had approved the prohibited transaction and should similarly be liable for damages, was barred because that claim had already been litigated and necessarily decided in the counterclaim brought by Fujikawa in Civ. No. 85-1188, in which no relief had been granted against Kim. 31 Fujikawa argues that it remains speculative whether the trial court in 85-1188 necessarily decided the issue, citing to additional facts not pled in Civ. No. 85-1188 evidencing Kim's further approval of the outer island representative system. 6 32 The litigation of an issue presented and necessarily decided in a prior action between the same parties is foreclosed by the doctrine of issue preclusion. Allen v. McCurry, 449 U.S. 90, 94, 101 S.Ct. 411, 414, 66 L.Ed.2d 308 (1980); Deutsch v. Flannery, 823 F.2d 1361, 1364 (9th Cir.1987). Merely submitting additional allegations that are not sufficiently different from those contained in the previous complaint will not render the doctrine inapplicable. Deutsch, 823 F.2d at 1364. 33 In both the counterclaim in 85-1188 and the amended counterclaim in 87-0213 (the subject of this particular appeal), Fujikawa alleged that Kim was liable for violations of section 404(a)(1)(A) and (B), 29 U.S.C. Sec. 1104(a)(1)(A) and (B), for knowing of the prohibited practice, yet allowing it to continue. The allegations added to the amended counterclaim lack any substantive significance from that contained in the 85-1188 counterclaim. 7 Thus, the same issue was involved in each action. 34 Furthermore, the district court necessarily decided the issue when it explicitly stated: I find for Kim and PECA on the claims asserted against them. Opinion (Civ. No. 85-1188) at 3. 35 Accordingly, we hold that the doctrine of issue preclusion presents an entirely sufficient basis for dismissing Fujikawa's amended counterclaim. 36