Albert Trepanier v. Getting Organized, Inc. and Tommy Styles

Summary

The court held that nonmutual defensive collateral estoppel may be applied when the party to be bound had a full and fair opportunity to litigate an identical issue, and it barred relitigation of whether age discrimination caused the plaintiffs' discharges. That determination did not dispose of the tortious-interference claim because interference could be improper for reasons unrelated to age discrimination, and factual questions remained regarding defendants' honesty, motives, and privilege. The court affirmed dismissal of counts I and IV, reversed dismissal of counts II, III, V, and VI, and remanded.