Magnolia Petroleum Co. v. Hunt

Summary

The Court held that under the Full Faith and Credit Clause a final workmen’s compensation award issued by Texas is res judicata and bars any subsequent compensation claim for the same injury in Louisiana. The majority reasoned that judgments, unlike statutes, must be given the same effect in all states, and no exception applies to workmen’s compensation awards. The decision reversed the Louisiana judgment and affirmed the Texas award. The opinion was accompanied by two dissents (Justices Black and Douglas) and a concurrence (Justice Jackson) contesting the majority’s application of the clause.