Long Beach Police Officers Ass'n v. City of Long Beach

Like all employees, public or private, the policemen and fireman herein involved are entitled, in case of injury during the course of their employment, to the equivalent of workmen’s compensation which includes time off with full pay while disabled. The city also has an elaborate plan for holiday vacations, applicable on its face to all of the employees herein involved. The petitioning association of police officers claims that its members are entitled to vacation pay even though during the entire year they were on full pay because of disability. We agree with them. Previously the policemen’s association, on behalf of its members, brought an action in superior court to secure the vacation rights of its disabled members. Judge Jerry Pacht rendered a judgment in favor of the association. No appeal was ever taken and that judgment has long since become final.

The parties, in their briefs, evidenced some confusion between judgments of this court and of the Supreme Court which declare the law and are bind *319 ing on everyone whether or not a party to a particular lawsuit; res judicata is binding on the parties to the action but not otherwise. In this case we conclude that…