Amber J.F. v. Richard B.

Richard B. appeals an order reinstating a paternity action filed against him by Amber J.F. Richard asserts that res judicata and collateral estoppel 1 bar Amber's action, because an earlier paternity action brought by Amber's mother, Lynn M., resulted in a jury finding that Richard was not Amber's father. However, because Amber was not a party to, nor in privity with the petitioner in, the earlier action, we conclude that claim preclusion does not apply. We also conclude that policies of fundamental fairness and due process proscribe the application of issue preclusion; therefore, we affirm…