Erskine v. Premo

Plaintiff appeals the trial court’s judgment dismissing his petition for a writ of habeas corpus. The trial court dismissed the case on its own motion, explaining that plaintiff’s allegations were “similar—if not identical—to those he raised” in a prior habeas corpus petition. Thus, the court concluded, plaintiffs petition was subject to dismissal because, “[o]nce an issue has been finally determined in a habeas corpus proceeding, it cannot be reexamined in another habeas corpus proceeding.” See ORS 34.710 (“No question once finally determined upon a proceeding by habeas corpus shall be reexamined upon another proceeding of the same kind.”). On appeal, plaintiff asserts that the trial court erred in dismissing his petition. Defendants agree. According to defendants, the earlier habeas corpus petition to which the court referred in its judgment had been dismissed without prejudice. Thus, the prior judgment of dismissal could not operate to preclude plaintiff from raising the claims at issue in this case. See Clark v. Gates, 138 Or App 160, 165, 906 P2d 863 (1995) (“A dismissal without prejudice cannot give rise to claim preclusion.”). Accordingly, defendants concede that we should reverse and remand the trial court’s judgment. We agree, and accept defendants’ concession.1

Reversed and remanded.