United States DC Circuit

In an action against an insurer to collect a judgment entered against the insured responsible for an accident, judgment for defendant is affirmed where: 1) under District of Columbia law, an insurer may be estopped from denying coverage only if its participation somehow prejudiced the insured by undermining his ability to defend himself; 2) defendant's policy did not require the payment of interest on a judgment for which defendant had been adjudged to have no liability; 3) under District of Columbia law, issue preclusion did not apply where issues were only similar, but not identical, or where the determination of an issue was "dictum" and not "essential to the judgment"; and 4) there was no abuse of discretion in the magistrate judge-s bifurcation of the case.

Appellate Information

• Decided 05/14/2010
• Published 05/14/2010

Judges

Court

• United States DC Circuit

Counsel