Paralegal Certification PrepLegal Terminology and ConceptsMedium
A paralegal is summarizing the concept of 'res judicata' for a new legal intern. The intern is struggling to understand when a claim can be re-litigated. Which of the following statements accurately explains the core principle of res judicata?
- AIt allows a higher court to review a lower court's decision for errors of law.
- BIt ensures that similar cases are decided in a similar manner based on prior judicial decisions.
- CIt requires all parties to a lawsuit to disclose all relevant information to each other.
- DIt prevents the same parties from re-litigating the same claims that have already been finally decided by a competent court.
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: D. It prevents the same parties from re-litigating the same claims that have already been finally decided by a competent court.
Res judicata, also known as claim preclusion, prevents parties from re-litigating claims that have already been decided on the merits by a court of competent jurisdiction.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. This describes appellate review, not res judicata.
- B. This describes the principle of stare decisis (precedent), not res judicata.
- C. This describes the discovery process in litigation.
Res Judicata
A legal doctrine meaning 'a matter judged,' which prevents the same parties from re-litigating claims that have already been decided on the merits by a court of competent jurisdiction.
- Also known as claim preclusion.
- Requires a final judgment on the merits.
- Applies to the same parties and the same claims.
Memory trick: Preclusion stops repeat performances in court.