Wilson v. MacDonald

OPINION

MATTHEWS, Justice.

I. INTRODUCTION

Merle Wilson pled no contest to the criminal charge of assaulting Judy MacDonald. MacDonald sued Wilson for damages related to the assault. The superior court held that a defendant who pleads no contest in a criminal case is precluded from relitigating the elements of the offense in a subsequent civil case and therefore granted summary judgment against Wilson on the elements of assault. After a trial on the issue of damages, Wilson appealed the grant of summary judgment. We affirm the superior court's grant of summary judgment.

II. FACTS AND PROCEEDINGS

Th…