Definition

1. Noun:
   • A matter already settled in court; cannot be raised again: "Res judicata" is a legal principle stating that a final judgment on the merits by a competent court is conclusive and prevents the same parties from re-litigating the same claim or cause of action in a subsequent lawsuit.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The defendant's motion to dismiss was granted based on the doctrine of res judicata.
  • Once the court issued its final judgment, the principle of res judicata barred any further claims on that issue.

Advanced Usage

• "Claim preclusion": This is a synonymous term often used interchangeably with "res judicata" in many jurisdictions to describe the same concept.

  • The court applied claim preclusion, finding the matter was res judicata.

• "Issue preclusion (collateral estoppel)": A related but distinct doctrine. While "res judicata" (claim preclusion) bars the entire claim, "issue preclusion" bars re-litigation of specific issues already decided.

  • Res judicata prevented the new lawsuit, while issue preclusion prevented them from arguing the same factual point.

Variants and Related Words

• Adjective Form: "Res judicata" is primarily used as a noun. The concept is often described with the phrase "is res judicata."

  • The matter is now res judicata.

• Legal Maxim: The full Latin maxim is "res judicata pro veritate accipitur," meaning "a matter adjudged is accepted as truth."

Synonyms

• Claim preclusion: The modern, functional synonym in legal terminology.
• Matter adjudged: A direct English translation of the Latin term.

Related Phrases

• Barred by res judicata: A common legal phrase used to describe the effect of the doctrine.

  • The plaintiff's attempt to file a new suit was barred by res judicata.

• Final judgment on the merits: A key prerequisite for "res judicata" to apply.

  • For res judicata to attach, there must first be a final judgment on the merits.

Noun

1. a matter already settled in court; cannot be raised again