Res adjudicata meaning

Res adjudicata means that a matter has been adjudicated by a court and cannot be re-litigated.


Res adjudicata definitions

Word backwards ser atacidujda
Part of speech The part of speech of the phrase "res adjudicata" is a noun.
Syllabic division res ad-ju-di-ca-ta
Plural The plural of the word "res adjudicata" is "res adjudicatae."
Total letters 13
Vogais (4) e,a,u,i
Consonants (6) r,s,d,j,c,t

Res judicata, which translates to "a matter judged," is a legal doctrine that prevents the same matter from being litigated again between the same parties. This principle aims to promote finality and efficiency in the legal system by preventing endless litigation over the same issue.

Key Elements of Res Judicata

Res judicata consists of two main elements: claim preclusion and issue preclusion. Claim preclusion bars parties from relitigating the same cause of action that has already been adjudicated, while issue preclusion prevents the reexamination of issues that were actually litigated and determined in a prior case.

Claim Preclusion

In claim preclusion, once a final judgment has been reached on the merits of a case, the same parties are generally not allowed to bring a new lawsuit based on the same claim or cause of action. This prevents parties from pursuing multiple lawsuits based on the same set of facts.

Issue Preclusion

Issue preclusion, also known as collateral estoppel, prevents parties from re-litigating specific issues that were actually decided in a prior case. If an issue was essential to the judgment in the previous case, it cannot be re-litigated in a subsequent case involving the same parties.

Res judicata applies not only to issues that were actually raised in the prior litigation but also to issues that could have been raised. This encourages parties to litigate all relevant issues in one proceeding to avoid piecemeal litigation.

Overall, res judicata serves as a fundamental principle of judicial economy and fairness, ensuring that once a matter has been properly adjudicated, it cannot be endlessly relitigated in the legal system.


Res adjudicata Examples

  1. The case was dismissed due to res adjudicata, as it had already been tried and judgment rendered.
  2. The doctrine of res adjudicata prevents parties from re-litigating issues that have already been decided by a court.
  3. The plaintiff's claim was barred by res adjudicata, as it involved the same parties and issues as a previous lawsuit.
  4. The court refused to hear the case, citing res adjudicata as the reason for its decision.
  5. The defense argued that the plaintiff's claim was precluded by res adjudicata, having been previously litigated and decided.
  6. The principle of res adjudicata promotes finality in legal proceedings and prevents endless litigation on the same issues.
  7. Res judicata applies not only to final judgments but also to decisions on jurisdictional matters.
  8. The court's ruling was based on res adjudicata, which prevented the same claims from being brought again.
  9. Res judicata is a fundamental legal principle that upholds the importance of finality in legal judgments.
  10. The doctrine of res adjudicata aims to prevent parties from abusing the legal system through multiple lawsuits on the same issue.


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  • Updated 22/04/2024 - 17:06:53