Nielson v. Spanaway General Medical Clinic, Inc.

Christina Nielson and her parents, Bradley and Stacey Nielson (Nielsons), appeal the order of partial summary judgment that precludes them from re-litigating damages based upon a prior adjudication awarding damages in federal court. We hold that collateral estoppel applies and that they are precluded from relitigating the issue of damages in state court. We affirm.

After Christina, a minor, suffered permanent neurologi*252cal injuries resulting from undiagnosed congestive heart failure, the Nielsons sued Madigan Army Medical Center in federal court (28 U.S.C. § 1346(b) (1993)). They sued Spanaway…