Commencing proceedings in an inferior court to circumvent leave requirements imposed by superior courts constitutes an abuse of process. Anshun estoppel may be relied upon by a party who was not a party to the earlier proceedings where the failure to join that party was unreasonable to such a degree that the later proceedings are an abuse of process. A stay of proceedings, as distinct from a dismissal, does not give rise to issue estoppel or res judicata.
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