Estate of Bayliss Ex Rel. Bowles v. Lee

MILLER, Justice:

In this case, we are asked to apply either the doctrine of res judicata or principles of collateral estoppel to reverse the circuit court’s judgment.

The Estate of J.M.H. Bayliss brought a civil action based on contribution to recover on what it claimed was a joint indebtedness owed by the plaintiff’s decedent Bayliss and the defendant, Rolfe Lee, which totaled $94,846.22. Bayliss had during his lifetime paid the entire amount.

The underlying obligation arose as a result of Bayliss and Lee being shareholders and directors in a corporation which developed a motel complex near…