Baxter v. Ruddle

OPINION

HIGHTOWER, Justice.

The issue which this court must decide is whether res judicata bars James Ruddle (Ruddle) from relitigating the division of his military retirement benefits. The trial court held that Judith Ann Baxter (Baxter), formerly Judith Ann Ruddle, was entitled to receive 37½% of Ruddle’s retirement benefits valued at the time of divorce. A divided court of appeals affirmed. 780 S.W.2d 888. We reverse the judgment of the court of appeals. 1

Baxter and Ruddle were divorced in 1978. At the time of the divorce, Ruddle had served twenty years in the military and was ranked as a…