Brown v. City of Dayton

We find that that the doctrine of res judicata applies to this case, and accordingly reverse the court of appeals.

At the outset, we must determine whether there is an identity of parties in the two actions. Res judicata operates as “ ‘a complete bar to any subsequent action on the same claim or cause of action between the parties or those in privity with them.’ ” (Emphasis added.) Johnson’s Island, Inc. v. Danbury Twp. Bd. of Trustees (1982), 69 Ohio St.2d 241, 243, 23 O.O.3d 243, 245, 431 N.E.2d 672, 674, quoting Norwood v. McDonald (1943), 142 Ohio St. 299, 27 O.O. 240, 52 N.E.2d 67,…