Oates v. Safeco Insurance Co. of America

BARDGETT, Chief Justice.

This appeal involves the issue of whether a prior judgment adverse to plaintiff-appellant in an action against an uninsured motorist now precludes appellant from maintaining an action against his “uninsured motorist” insurance carrier because of the doctrine of collateral estoppel. This cause was transferred after opinion by the Missouri Court of Appeals, Eastern District, on application of respondent, pursuant to Rule 83.03. Portions of the Court of Appeals opinion will be utilized without the use of quotation marks.

On September 30, 1972, an automobile collision…