Ferris V. Hawkins

In this appeal, we must decide whether a final judgment entered by the superior court in an unemployment compensation appeal may be given res judicata or collateral estoppel effect in an appeal from a decision of the State Personnel Board (Personnel Board) where both proceedings arose out of the discharge of the employee from the Department of Corrections (DOC). For the reasons explained below, we hold that the principles of collateral estoppel and res judicata*fn1 do not apply under these circumstances.