Court Opinion

ID: 9691221
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-24 20:17:05.209329+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:19:13.294326
License: Public Domain

HOLLIGER, J.,
concurring.
I concur fully with the majority opinion because of the doctrine of res judicata. I write separately to emphasize that Margo Reid has lost her opportunity to collect from the Missouri State Legal Expense Fund because of her failure to appeal from the decision of the St. Francois County holding that the Fund had no duty to defend or indemnify for the wrongful actions of a state employee against a mental health patient. With regard to the obligation to indemnify, that issue was both premature and was not proper for declaratory judgment. The judgment of St. Francois County was incorrect and would, I believe, have been reversed on appeal. At this point the Cole County Circuit and this court are bound, however, by that final judgment.