Court Opinion

ID: 9459641
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-04 21:27:07.050536+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:36:15.739123
License: Public Domain

BAZELON, Chief Judge
(concurring) :
I concur in the result reached by the majority opinion, but on somewhat different grounds. I agree that the judgment of June 30, 1970, should not estop Stebbins from relitigating the issue of his employability in the course of pressing his claims of racial discrimination against members of the insurance industry. But that Stebbins appeared pro se in the first INA litigation is of crucial significance for me.
It is true that a person appearing on his own behalf is entitled to no special privileges or rights unavailable to parties represented by counsel.1 I am aware that Stebbins’ litigious history and two years of legal training have caused courts in the past to rule against him on procedural and technical matters.2 The *512question of employability, however, is a matter of such importance that Stebbins’ actual understanding of the consequences of the course of action he took must be considered.
It appears from the record in the IN A litigation that Stebbins thought he had a right to. proceed with discovery against IN A before his case would be dismissed from court. Indeed, the interrogatories he wanted answered contained the core of his discrimination claim. Since discovery is usually the cornerstone of any successful discrimination complaint,3 Stebbins is not to be faulted for actively pursuing discovery.
It further appears that in failing to contest INA’s motion for summary judgment, Stebbins was not engaging in a deliberate, willful or contemptuous attempt to frustrate the proceedings. Nor was he refusing to comply with an order of the court.4
Given these facts, I do not believe that Stebbins had any knowledge of the collateral consequences of the IN A judgment. The actual foreseeability of these consequences is an important factor for this court to consider in deciding whether the effect of the INA judgment should be collaterally extended against him.5
Also, in the area of employment discrimination, these consequences are particularly severe. Stebbins is literally barred from pressing any of his claims in court. His suits have been dismissed in another Circuit, seemingly without any analysis of whether changed circumstances or the passage of time affected the applicability of the June 30th judgment.6
Stebbins is attempting to prove claims of an extremely sensitive nature against a number of large insurance companies. We must be especially cautious not to place unwarranted roadblocks in the way of discrimination litigation which is commonly brought by indigent or pro se members of minority groups.7
To avoid this problem, the trial court could have given Stebbins a minimal amount of information about the consequences of his failure to contest the motion for summary judgment. I do not think that it is the duty of the court to fully educate a litigant who continuously appears pro se,8 but neither is it fair or just for the court to ignore palpable ignorance in rendering a judgment with such drastic consequences.

. See Mazique v. Mazique, 123 U.S.App.D.C. 48, 356 F.2d 801, cert. denied, 384 U.S. 981, 86 S.Ct. 1882, 16 L.Ed.2d 691 (1966) ; Barnes v. United States, 241 F.2d 252 (9th Cir. 1956).

. See Stebbins v. Nationwide Mutual Ins. Co., 469 F.2d 268, (4th Cir. 1972) ; Stebbins v. Continental Ins. Cos., 143 U.S. *512App.D.C. 121, 442 F.2d 843 (1971) ; Stebbins v. State Farm Mutual Automobile Ins. Co., 134 U.S.App.D.C. 193, 413 F.2d 1100, cert. denied, 396 U.S. 895, 90 S.Ct. 194, 24 L.Ed.2d 173 (1969) ; Stebbins v. Nationwide Mutual Ins. Co., 382 F.2d 267 (4th Cir. 1967).

. See, e. g., Lea v. Cone Mills Corp., 301 F.Supp. 97 (M.D.N.C.1969), aff’d in part and vacated in part, 438 F.2d 86 (4th Cir. 1971).

. Compare Stebbins v. State Farm Mutual Automobile Ins. Co., 134 U.S.App.D.C. 193, 413 F.2d 1100 (1969).

. See generally, Polasky, Collateral Estoppel — Effects of Prior Litigation, 39 Iowa L.Rev. 217, 221; Developments in the Law — Res Judicata, 65 Harv.L.Rev. 818, 841^42 (1952).

. Stebbins v. Nationwide Mutual Ins. Co., 469 F.2d 268 (4th Cir. 1972), affirming Civil Action No. 373-69-A (E.D.Ya., Sept. 9, 1971).

. Cf. Macklin v. Spector Freight Systems, Inc., 156 U.S.App.D.C. 69, 478 F.2d 979 (issued May 9, 1973).

. Cf. Carrigan v. California State Legislature, 263 F.2d 560 (9th Cir.), cert. denied, 359 U.S. 980, 79 S.Ct. 901, 3 L.Ed.2d 929 (1959).