Tar Landing Villas Owners' Ass'n v. Town of Atlantic Beach

VAUGHN, Chief Judge.

The first question raised by petitioners on appeal is whether the trial court erred in refusing to apply the doctrine of collateral estoppel or res judicata. We affirm that part of the judgment holding that neither the doctrine of res judicata nor collateral estoppel precluded the Town from annexing petitioners’ properties.

*242The doctrine of res judicata, which bars subsequent lawsuits on a cause of action previously litigated and decided on the merits, is inapplicable in this case. See King v. Grindstaff, 284 N.C. 348, 200 S.E. 2d 799 (1973). Petitioners’ cause of action…