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Civil procedure

res judicata and collateral estoppel

Res judicata is the generic term for a group of related concepts concerning the conclusive effects given final judgments. Within this general doctrine there are two principal categories: (1) claim preclusion—also known as res judicata; and (2) issue preclusion—also known as collateral estoppel.

These legal doctrines generally preclude litigants from relitigating claims and issues that were previously litigated to a final resolution or judgment.

In Michigan, res judicata, or claim preclusion, prevents a party from relitigating a claim that has already been adjudicated by a competent court and has reached a final judgment. This doctrine ensures that a party cannot bring the same cause of action against the same party once a court has made a final decision on the matter. Issue preclusion, also known as collateral estoppel, bars the relitigation of factual or legal issues that were actually litigated and necessarily determined in a prior action between the same parties or their privies. For both res judicata and collateral estoppel to apply, the earlier judgment must have been rendered by a court of competent jurisdiction, the same parties or their privies must be involved, and the matter must have been decided in a final judgment on the merits. These principles are designed to promote judicial efficiency and the finality of judgments, preventing the same disputes from being litigated multiple times.

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Civil procedure

res judicata and collateral estoppel

Individual & Family Legal Plan

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Michigan State Code

Michigan State Code

Civil procedure

res judicata and collateral estoppel

Articles