Collateral Estoppel Doctrine Will Not Be Invoked Unless there Has Been at Least One Full Hearing on the Issues Involved
The Second Department, in determining collateral estoppel did not apply to a Notice of Determination that plaintiff was not entitled to unemployment insurance benefits, explained that the collateral estoppel doctrine will not be invoked unless there has been at least one full hearing on the issues involved:
Pursuant to the doctrine of collateral estoppel, which is otherwise known as issue preclusion, a party may be barred from relitigating an issue which has been decided in another proceeding by a court or in a quasi-judicial administrative forum … . In addition, … “[a];s the consequences of a determination that a party is collaterally estopped from litigating a particular issue are great, strict requirements for application of the doctrine must be satisfied to insure that a party not be precluded from obtaining at least one full hearing on his or her claim” … .
Here, the record does not demonstrate that the Notice of Determination was rendered after a hearing or that it otherwise constitutes a quasi-judicial determination … . Twaddell v Drop & Lock Stor Co Inc, 2014 NY Slip Op 03678, 2nd Dept 5-21-14