Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit December 7, 1981, 80-3537 (Morris A. Hicks, on Behalf of Himself and All Others Similarly Situated v. The Quaker Oats Company)

RANDALL, Circuit Judge:

This case involves a suit by fourteen former employees of the defendant Quaker Oats Company for benefits under a special retirement program, and presents several difficult questions regarding the law of collateral estoppel.