Indiana
How Allen v. McCurry applies in Indiana: state-specific rules, key cases, and bar exam notes for Civil Procedure (Preclusion) / Civil Rights (§ 1983).
Indiana courts recognize the principles of claim and issue preclusion similarly to federal courts, but with specific state rules tied to Indiana's procedural statutes. The state's approach emphasizes the necessity for a full and fair opportunity to litigate the issue in the initial proceeding.
In Indiana, claim preclusion bars relitigation of claims in subsequent actions if the claims were or could have been raised in an earlier action that resulted in a final judgment. Issue preclusion applies when an issue of fact or law has been determined in a final judgment and the party against whom preclusion is sought had a fair opportunity to contest it.
The Indiana Court of Appeals affirmed that issue preclusion applies when a party has had a full and fair opportunity to litigate a central issue in an earlier proceeding.
The Indiana Supreme Court held that claim preclusion applies to bar subsequent claims if they could have been resolved in previous litigation.
Established that issue preclusion requires the issue to have been essential to the judgment in the prior case.
Indiana follows the same basic principles of preclusion as established by the federal courts, but Indiana law places a stronger emphasis on the fairness of the initial litigation opportunities. Federal rules allow for broader applications of res judicata and collateral estoppel that may vary depending on jurisdictional considerations.
Understanding the nuances of claim and issue preclusion as they relate to § 1983 claims is crucial, as these concepts frequently arise in the Indiana bar exam's civil procedure section.