Hanley Engineering v. Weitz & Company

The Full Faith and Credit Clause requires a valid final judgment in one state, rendered by a court with jurisdiction over a person and subject matter governed by the judgment be recognized in all states. However, it does not require states to adopt practices of other states regarding enforcement for judgments.

Defendant appealed an order denying their Motion to Set Aside Extension of Foreign Judgment. Defendant argued the trial court erred because the judgment was no longer entitled to full faith and credit as it had expired in Idaho. The Full Faith and Credit Clause requires a valid final judgment in one state, rendered by a court with jurisdiction over a person and subject matter governed by the judgment be recognized in all states. However, it does not require states to adopt practices of other states regarding enforcement for judgments. While the original judgment had expired, Full Faith and Credit does not require a forum state to replace its statutes regarding judgment enforcement with those of the rendering state. The Court found that once the foreign judgment had been filed, it became an Oregon judgment to be enforced under Oregon law. The trial court was correct to apply Oregon’s statute of limitations. AFFIRMED.