Court Opinion

ID: 9620783
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-22 05:47:40.957998+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:36:35.197512
License: Public Domain

Donald L. Corbin, Justice. Appellant Lance R. Craven filed a negligence suit in the Sebastian County Circuit Court against Appellees Fulton Sanitation Service, Inc., d/b/a Sun Ray Services, Inc., d/b/a USA Waste of Arkansas, Inc. (“Fulton”), and Kendale Lloyd Toney. The trial court granted summary judgment to Appellees on the ground that an adverse decision from the Workers’ Compensation Commission barred Appellant’s suit under the doctrine of collateral estoppel. Appellant contends that the trial court’s ruling is erroneous because it violates his constitutional right to a trial by jury and his right to bring suit against a third party under Ark. Code Ann. § ll-9-410(a)(l)(A) (Repl. 2002). The Arkansas Court of Appeals certified this case to us as presenting an issue of first impression as to whether a judgment by an administrative agency may be given preclusive effect in such cases where the litigant has the right to a jury trial. Our jurisdiction is thus pursuant to Ark. Sup. Ct. R. l-2(b) (1). We reverse the order of summary judgment and remand for further proceedings in this matter. The relevant facts are not in dispute, and the parties agree that this appeal presents only questions of law, which this court reviews de novo. See Brown v. Pine Bluff Nursing Home, 359 Ark. 471, 199 S.W.3d 45 (2004); Holt v. McCastlain, 357 Ark. 455, 182 S.W.3d 112 (2004). Suffice it to say that Appellant was involved in an automobile accident on March 10, 1999, wherein the vehicle he was driving was struck from behind by one of Fulton’s trucks that was driven by Toney. Because Appellant was on the job at the time of the accident, he filed a claim against his employer, Cockram Concrete, alleging that he sustained compensable injuries to his neck, upper back, and lower back. His employer accepted the compensability of his neck and upper-back injuries; however, it questioned whether his lower-back injuries had been caused by the accident. The Commission’s Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) concluded that Appellant had failed to prove a causal relationship between his lower-back injuries and the automobile accident. The ALJ’s decision was affirmed by the Commission. Appellant appealed to the court of appeals; however, he abandoned the appeal when he failed to lodge the record with the appellate court. Appellant filed the instant suit against Appellees in August 2001, seeking damages for his lower-back injuries.1 Appellees moved for summary judgment on the ground that the ALJ’s determination of the issue of causation precluded Appellant from relitigating it. Appellant argued that giving preclusive effect to the Commission’s judgment on the issue of causation would deprive him of his constitutional right to have that factual issue determined by a jury. He also argued that section 1 l-9-410(a)(1)(A) specifically provides that the making of a claim for workers’ compensation shall not affect the employee’s right to maintain an action in court against a third party. The trial court granted summary judgment, and Appellant appealed. The sole issue on appeal is whether the doctrine of res judicata may be applied to a final judgment of the Workers’ Compensation Commission so as to bar the employee’s constitutional right to a jury trial against a third-party tortfeasor. The concept of the doctrine of res judicata has two facets: claim preclusion and issue preclusion. See Barclay v. Waters, 357 Ark. 386, 182 S.W.3d 91 (2004); Searcy v. Davenport, 352 Ark. 307, 100 S.W.3d 711 (2003); John Cheeseman Trucking, Inc. v. Pinson, 313 Ark. 632, 855 S.W.2d 941 (1993). Claim preclusion forecloses further litigation on a cause of action, while issue preclusion forecloses further litigation in connection with a certain issue. Id. Issue preclusion is the type of res judicata involved in this case. Issue preclusion, better known in this state as collateral estoppel, bars relitigation of issues of law or fact previously litigated, provided that the party against whom the earlier decision is being asserted had a full and fair opportunity to litigate the issue in question and that the issue was essential to the judgment. Beaver v. John Q. Hammons Hotels, 355 Ark. 359, 138 S.W.3d 664 (2003); Zinger v. Terrell, 336 Ark. 423, 985 S.W.2d 737 (1999). To apply collateral estoppel, the following elements must be present: (1) the issue sought to be precluded must be the same as that involved in the prior litigation; (2) the issue must have been actually litigated; (3) the issue must have been determined by a valid and final judgment; and (4) the determination must have been essential to the judgment. Id. Collateral estoppel may be asserted by a stranger to the first judgment, but the party against whom it is asserted must have been a party to the earlier action and must have had a full and fair opportunity to litigate the issue in that first proceeding. State Office of Child Support Enforcem’t v. Willis, 347 Ark. 6, 59 S.W.3d 438 (2001); Coleman’s Serv. Ctr., Inc. v. FDIC, 55 Ark. App. 275, 935 S.W.2d 289 (1996). Ordinarily, the doctrine of res judicata, either in the form of claim preclusion or issue preclusion, is applied based on a final judgment issued by a court. Flowever, the doctrine has been applied in this state to issues determined by final judgment or decree of an administrative agency. Significantly, both this court and the court of appeals have held that the doctrine is applicable to decisions of the Workers’ Compensation Commission. See Beaver, 355 Ark. 359, 138 S.W.3d 664; Mohawk Tire & Rubber Co. v. Brider, 259 Ark. 728, 536 S.W.2d 126 (1976); Andrews v. Gross & Janes Tie Co., 214 Ark. 210, 216 S.W.2d 386 (1948); Perry v. Leisure Lodges, Inc., 19 Ark. App. 143, 718 S.W.2d 114 (1986); Tuberville v. International Paper Co., 18 Ark. App. 210, 711 S.W.2d 840 (1986); Gwin v. R.D. Hall Tank Co., 10 Ark. App. 12, 660 S.W.2d 947 (1983). In Andrews, this court explained: While the compensation commission is not a court, it exercises gwijji-judicial functions in its investigations and determinations and its awards are in the nature of judgments. The doctrine of res judicata which forbids the reopening of matters once judicially determined by competent authority applies as well to decisions of a commission or board administering workmen’s compensation acts as to judgmerits of courts having general judicial powers. 50 C.J.S., Judgments, § 690. The rule generally followed is stated in 71 C.J., p. 1195, as follows: “The award in compensation proceedings has the force and effect of the verdict of a jury. Being in the nature of a judgment, it finally and conclusively determines the rights of the parties under the workmen’s compensation acts unless set aside in a proper manner, and is as binding as a judgment of a court and entitled to the same faith and credit as such a judgment.” See, also, Anno. 122 A.L.R. 550. 214 Ark. at 214-15, 216 S.W.2d at 388.  None of the foregoing cases involved the issue of the constitutional right to a jury trial in civil cases. Notwithstanding, Appellees contend that the statement in Andrews that the award in compensation proceedings has the force and effect of a jury verdict implies that the issue has been decided. Appellees also point to the statement by the court of appeals that application of the doctrine of res judicata to administrative actions “is especially appropriate to bar new proceedings when an agency has conducted a trial-type hearing, made findings, and applied the law.” Brandon v. Arkansas Western Gas Co., 76 Ark. App. 201, 210-11, 61 S.W.3d 193, 200 (2001) (citing Fuchs v. Moore, 589 N.W.2d 902 (N.D. 1999)). We do not view these holdings as being dispositive of the issue at hand, and we conclude that the doctrine may not be applied to bar an employee from having a jury determine factual issues in an action at law against a third party. Article 2, Section 7, of the Arkansas Constitution provides in pertinent part that “[t]he right of trial by jury shall remain inviolate, and shall extend to all cases at law, without regard to the amount in controversy[.]” The right to jury trial under this provision is a fundamental right. Walker v. First Commercial Bank, N.A., 317 Ark. 617, 880 S.W.2d 316 (1994); Bussey v. Bank of Malvern, 270 Ark. 37, 603 S.W.2d 426 (Ark. App. 1980). It extends to all cases that were triable by a jury at common law. Hopper v. Garner, 328 Ark. 516, 944 S.W.2d 540 (1997); McClanahan v. Gibson, 296 Ark. 304, 756 S.W.2d 889 (1988). In other words, the constitutional right to trial by jury extends only to the trial of issues of fact in civil and criminal causes. Jones v. Reed, 267 Ark. 237, 590 S.W.2d 6 (1979). Tort cases, such as the negligence suit present in this case, are civil cases that were triable by juries at common law. See McClanahan, 296 Ark. 304, 756 S.W.2d 889. Under our current Workers’ Compensation Act, an employee gives up the right to a jury trial in an action against the employer for unintentional work-related injuries. That right was vanquished with the passage of Amendment 26 to the Arkansas Constitution, now found in Article 5, Section 32, which gave the legislature the power to provide the means, method, and forum for adjudicating claims arising under the workers’ compensation law. See Grimmett v. Digby, 267 Ark. 192, 589 S.W.2d 579 (1979) (superseded by statute on other grounds). In exchange for giving up that right, the employee gains a certain and quick resolution of his or her claim against the employer. Arkansas Code Annotated § 11-9-101 (b) (Repl. 2002) provides that one of the primary purposes of workers’ compensation laws is “to pay timely temporary and permanent disability benefits to all legitimately injured workers who suffer an injury or disease arising out of and in the course of their employment^]” The rights and remedies granted to employees under the Act are exclusive of all other rights and remedies of the employee from the employer. Ark. Code Ann. § ll-9-105(a) (Repl. 2002). The reason for such exclusivity is found in the general purpose behind our workers’ compensation laws, which was to change the common law by shifting the burden of all work-related injuries from individual employers and employees to the consuming public, with the concept of fault being virtually immaterial.2 Brown v. Finney, 326 Ark. 691, 932 S.W.2d 769 (1996); Simmons First Nat’l Bank v. Thompson, 285 Ark. 275, 686 S.W.2d 415 (1985). With the passage of such statutes, employers gave up the common-law defenses of contributory negligence, fellow servant, and assumption of the risk, while employees gave up the chance of recovering unlimited damages in tort actions in return for certain recovery in all work-related cases. Id. Thus, it has been held that the exclusivity of our workers’ compensation laws favors both the employer and the employee. Brown, 326 Ark. 691, 932 S.W.2d 769.  In contrast, an employee does not forfeit any right to unlimited damages in a civil trial against a third party, regardless of whether the employee has previously made a claim for compensation against the employer. On the contrary, section 11 — 9— 410(a)(1)(A) specifically provides: The making of a claim for compensation against any employer or carrier for the injury or death of an employee shall not affect the right of the employee, or his or her dependents, to make a claim or maintain an action in court against any third party for the injury, but the employer or the employer’s carrier shall be entitled to reasonable notice and opportunity to join in the action. [Emphasis added.] There is no dispute that Appellees in the case at bar are third parties under the Act. Accordingly, Appellant has a right to maintain an action against them in court, despite the fact that he has already pursued a compensation claim against his employer. Construing section ll-9-410(a)(l)(A) along with the constitutional right to a jury trial in civil cases and considering the purpose of the Workers’ Compensation Act, we conclude that the trial court erred in giving preclusive effect to the Commission’s judgment on the issue of causation. Although this issue is one of first impression in Arkansas, we find guidance in a similar case from Minnesota. In Heine v. Simon, 674 N.W.2d 411 (Minn. Ct. App. 2004), the Minnesota Court of Appeals held that collateral estoppel did not bar the plaintiffs claim against a third-party tortfeasor where the workers’ compensation determination concluded that the plaintiffs injuries were not caused by the accident with the defendant. There, as in this state, it had previously been held that the principles of res judicata apply to workers’ compensation decisions in certain instances. However, the Heine court concluded that collateral estoppel did not bar the employee’s civil suit because the procedures available in the workers’ compensation proceedings were markedly different from those available in a civil suit. As such, the court held that the plaintiff was deprived of the full and fair opportunity to litigate the issue of causation before the agency. The court explained: Workers’ compensation hearings are not bound by common law or statutory rules of evidence, nor are the rules of pleading or procedure applicable. Reliable hearsay is admissible. Additionally, there is no right to a jury trial on a workers’ compensation claim. Based on the nature of the proceedings and the record before us, we conclude that the workers’ compensation hearing did not provide a full and fair opportunity to be heard for the purpose of applying the doctrine of collateral estoppel in Heine’s negligence action against a third-party tortfeasor. Id. at 423 (citations omitted).  Proceedings before our Workers’ Compensation Commission and its hearing officers are informal in that the Commission is not bound by technical or statutory rules of evidence or by technical or formal rules of procedure in conducting a hearing. Ark. Code Ann. § 11-9-705 (a) (Repl. 2002). More importantly, the proceedings before the Commission do not provide for the right to have a jury determine factual issues. Given the nature of these proceedings, especially the lack of a jury trial, we conclude that to give the Commission’s decision preclusive effect would deprive Appellant of a full and fair opportunity to litigate the issue. Article 2, Section 7, of our constitution makes clear that the right to a jury trial in all cases at law, i.e., civil and criminal cases, is inviolate unless it is waived by the litigant. It is due to the constitutional stature of this right, along with the right to redress of wrongs found in Article 2, Section 13, that made it necessary to amend our constitution before the legislature could establish our workers’ compensation laws, as those laws effectively strip employees of these rights in claims against their employers. Grimmett, 267 Ark. 192, 589 S.W.2d 579.  Moreover, section ll-9-410(a)(l)(A) of our Workers’ Compensation Act specifically provides that an employee’s pursuit of a claim for compensation against his or her employer shall not effect the employee’s right to maintain an action in court against a third-party tortfeasor. While an employee gives up the right to a jury trial against the employer, the employee does not give up that right against a third party. Were we to hold that the Commission’s determination precluded Appellant’s suit against Appellees, we would effectively be requiring him to choose between enforcing his rights under the workers’ compensation laws and his constitutional right to a jury trial against the third-party tortfeasor. The Workers’ Compensation Act does not require Appellant to make such a choice, and nor do we.  In sum, under our state constitution and the Workers’ Compensation Act, an employee injured by the negligence of a third party is entitled to have a jury determine the issue of causation, as well as any other factual issues. See also Ark. Code Ann. § 16-64-103(b) (1987) (providing that issues of fact in an action at law for the recovery of money shall be tried by a jury unless a jury trial is waived). We therefore conclude that the trial court erred in giving preclusive effect to the Commission’s determination on the issue of causation, and we reverse the order of summary judgment and remand for further proceedings. Reversed and remanded. Imber, J., concurs.   Although Appellant initially sought damages for the injuries to his neck and upper back, in addition to those in his lower back, he later withdrew that claim.    However, our workers’ compensation laws do not preclude an employee from filing a tort action against an employer for the infliction of intentional or willful injuries. See, e.g., Gourley v. Crossett Pub. Sch., 333 Ark. 178, 968 S.W.2d 56 (1998); Hill v. Patterson, 313 Ark. 322, 855 S.W.2d 297 (1993).