Thompson v. Department of Licensing

— We must decide in this case if an allegedly erroneous decision in a criminal proceeding, from which the State declined to appeal, has preclusive effect in a subsequent administrative action by a State agency against the same individual. Applying our traditional test for collateral estoppel, we hold the decision in the criminal proceeding precludes a different decision in a subsequent administrative action on the same issue. We therefore reverse the Court of Appeals and remand the case to the trial court to direct the Department to reverse the license disqualification.

ISSUE

Did the trial…