Zurcher v. Bilton

Chief Justice TOAL:

Appellant initiated a civil action against Respondents alleging various torts arising out of a physical altercation between the parties. The trial court granted Respondents’ motion for summary judgment as to each claim on the grounds that Appellant’s Alford plea in a previous criminal proceeding collaterally estopped Appellant from litigating a civil claim based on the same facts as the criminal conviction. We affirm.

Factual/Procedural Background

In June 2004, Appellant Rodney Zurcher (“Zurcher”) approached Respondent Joey Bilton (“Bilton”) in Bilton’s office at the Woody…