Michael J. Fitzpatrick - Page 22

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                  Furthermore, we decline petitioner's invitation to                                       
            "determine the hierarchy of doctrines commonly relied upon in our                              
            legal system", including whether the doctrine of collateral                                    
            estoppel is superior to the civil doctrine, nobiliores et                                      
            benigniores praesumptiones in dubiis sunt praeferendae,15 and                                  
            whether "the doctrine of collateral estoppel [is] superior to the                              
            doctrine of lenity as to the interpretation of the findings of a                               
            jury charged with clear and specific instructions by the trial                                 
            court judge?"                                                                                  
                  In accordance with the foregoing,                                                        
                                                              An appropriate order will                    
                                                        be issued.                                         

















            15 Black's Law Dictionary 1047 (6th ed. 1990) defines this as                                  
            follows:                                                                                       
                  In cases of doubt, the more generous and more benign                                     
                  presumptions are to be preferred.  A civil-law maxim.                                    

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