Suit Against Arbitrator Barred by Res Judicata, Collateral Estoppel, Judge Rules

TRENTON, N.J. - A suit brought against an arbitrator who allegedly failed to disclose a conflict of interest involving an attorney who represented the prevailing party in an arbitration is barred by res judicata and collateral estoppel, a New Jersey federal judge has ruled. Great Western Mining & Mineral Co. v. ADR Options Inc., No. 09-2907 (D. N.J.).

In a Feb. 8 order, Judge Freda L. Wolfson of the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey explained that the plaintiff's claims had previously been extensively adjudicated, and rejected, by the District Court and the 3rd Circuit U.S. Court …