LAY v. ELLIS

KAUGER, J.:

*1037 ¶ 1 This retained cause presents multiple issues, one of which is when it is appropriate to appeal an indirect contempt finding. Under the facts of this cause, the respondent argues that the Court has created the set of circumstances which put him in the position of first having to completely purge the contempt (in this case a three year process) before appealing, thus violating his constitutional right of access to the courts. The remaining issues are whether the trial court: 1) improperly applied res judicata to a previous bankruptcy court proceeding; 2) improperly interpreted a…