Prior Judgment Under the Longshore Act Bars Reopening of Causation Issue, Conn. Court Says

HARTFORD, Conn. - The doctrine of collateral estoppel operates to bar the adjudication of the issue of causation in an asbestos work-related injury case under the Workers' Compensation Act that was preceded by a judgment under the federal Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act, the Connecticut Supreme Court has ruled. Lafayette v. General Dynamics Corp./Electric Boat Div. et al., No. SC 16420 (Conn. Sup. Ct.).

Plaintiff Kathryn Lafayette appealed from a decision of the state's workers' compensation review board, which affirmed the decision of the workers' compensation commissioner.

The commissioner had concluded that the doctrine of collateral estoppel did not …