Court Opinion

ID: 9509086
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-06 21:43:01.910852+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:07:44.289092
License: Public Domain

JUSTICE HUNT
dissenting.
I dissent. The pursuit of justice has always been a pursuit of fairness within logical parameters. Today’s decision instead ignores this goal of jurisprudence and reflects inherent unfairness. The majority opinion fails to recognize a crucial factor in res judicata determination — that the previous judgment be made on the merits. Instead, it subjects itself to the ease of a deficient four-prong test with no concern for logic or fairness. The majority simply states four requisite criterion for the binding effect of res judicata and satisfies itself without a deeper inspection of the larger issues of justice underlying the plaintiff’s claim. Most jurisdictions require that prior judgments be on the merits.
Furthermore, this case was tried in Justice Court. Thus, with no record before it, the District Court had no means of recognizing exactly what was adjudicated on the merits. It could not have known at all whether or not the case was tried on the merits. At most, the District Court was presented with a general ruling from below, not enough to substantiate a summary judgment ruling on res judicata.
The majority’s result deprives the plaintiff of a full and fair adjudication of her rightful allegation against the defendant. Its ruling today is facially insufficient to pretend to support traditional notions of justice. I would reverse the District Court’s ruling and remand for a proper determination of the plaintiff’s claim.