Johnston v. East St. Louis Illinois Homes, Inc.

This is an appeal from the Circuit Court of St. Clair County, Blinois, from the dismissal of the appellants’ complaint in an action to construe certain Bond for Deed contracts and payments thereunder as equitable mortgages.

The principal issue on appeal concerns the extent to which a judgment of a court of limited jurisdiction must be pleaded in order that it may act as a bar to a subsequent action under the principles of res judicata.

The appellants, Charles and Kathleen Johnston, entered into three separate Bond for Deed contracts with the appellee, East St. Louis Homes, Inc., for the…