Arkansas Louisiana Gas Co. v. Taylor

Dale Price, Special Chief Justice.

At issue in this case is whether a decision in a federal court case operates as res judicata to bar the litigant from participating as a passive claimant in a subsequent class action suit brought in state chancery court.

In 1983, appellee Taylor filed a complaint in federal court in the Western District of Arkansas seeking to cancel or reform thirty-one (31) of his oil and gas leases, twelve (12) of which are included in the present suit. Taylor also requested other relief that was substantially the same as that requested in the present litigation.

A thirteenth…