Fogleman v. Meaux Surface Protection, Inc.
58 So. 3d 1057
La. Ct. App.2011Background
- Meaux sued appellants for breach of fiduciary duty in Texas federal court and obtained a $1,430,000 judgment (Feb. 24, 2009).
- Appellants filed a Louisiana petition (July 23, 2007) for unpaid wages and bonuses under an employment contract.
- Meaux asserted res judicata in Louisiana on June 15, 2010; the trial court granted the exception and dismissed with prejudice.
- Meaux introduced part of the Texas record at the Louisiana hearing; the petition/complaint in Texas was not in the record.
- The appellate court held the Louisiana ruling was in error and reversed, remanding for proceedings consistent with the opinion.
- Costs of the appeal taxed to Meaux Surface Protection, Inc.
Issues
| Issue | Plaintiff's Argument | Defendant's Argument | Held |
|---|---|---|---|
| Whether res judicata barred the Louisiana wage/bonus claim | Fogleman/Kotrla | Meaux | No; same nucleus not present; not barred |
| Whether the absence of the full Texas record bars review | Fogleman/Kotrla | Meaux | No; record sufficient for de novo review; differences in actions matter |
| What is the proper standard of review for res judicata in this context | Fogleman/Kotrla | Meaux | De novo review applicable; trial court erred in using res judicata to dismiss |
Key Cases Cited
- Test Masters Educational Services, Inc. v. Singh, 428 F.3d 559 (5th Cir. 2005) (test for same nucleus of operative facts under transactional approach)
- Union Planters Bank v. Commercial Capital Holding Corp., 907 So.2d 129 (La.App. 1 Cir. 2005) (absence of evidence undermines res judicataBurden of proof)
- Allen v. McCurry, 449 U.S. 90 (1980) (final judgment on the merits under federal res judicata)
- Terrebonne Fuel & Lube, Inc. v. Placid Refining Co., 666 So.2d 624 (La.1/16/96) (test for res judicata requires same parties and final judgment on the merits)
- Morales v. Parish of Jefferson, 54 So.3d 669 (La.App. 5 Cir. 2010) (de novo review of res judicata question)
- Jefferson Marine Towing, Inc. v. Kostmayer Const., LLC, 32 So.3d 255 (La.App. 5 Cir. 2010) (res judicata considerations in Louisiana appellate review)
- Eubanks v. FDIC, 977 F.2d 166 (5th Cir. 1992) (federal res judicata principles applied)
- Jones ex rel. Jones v. GEO Group, Inc., 6 So.3d 1021 (La.App. 3 Cir. 2009) (de novo standard when reviewing res judicata)