Wall v. Stinson

We grant full faith and credit to another states judgment only if the issuing court had jurisdiction over the parties and the subject in controversy. But when jurisdiction has been fully litigated in the issuing court, we must credit that courts jurisdictional decision. Alaskan Robert B. Wall appeared in court in Oregon and contested Oregons jurisdiction over his person and over the subject matter of his child support action. The court decided that it had jurisdiction and entered a child support judgment against Wall. Wall abandoned his appeal. He later attacked the Oregon judgment in Alaska on jurisdictional grounds. We hold that Oregons decision on jurisdiction is binding and bars Walls attack.