Crowall v. Heritage Mutual Insurance

Roger A. Crowall appeals from a trial court order granting Heritage Mutual Insurance Company’s motion to dismiss his action upon the merits and with prejudice. In dismissing, the trial court applied the doctrines of res judicata and collateral estoppel and found that the only issue in the action had already been resolved against Crowall in a prior criminal proceeding. The issue before us on appeal is whether collateral estoppel can be applied when there is no mutuality of parties between the party asserting collateral estoppel and the party against whom it is asserted. We hold that lack of…