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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 Oregon, res judicata, also known as claim preclusion, prevents a party from relitigating a claim that has already been finally adjudicated in a court of law. This means that once a court has issued a final judgment on the merits of a case, the same parties cannot bring a lawsuit on the same claim again. Issue preclusion, or collateral estoppel, is a related concept that bars the relitigation of specific issues that were already decided in a previous lawsuit. For issue preclusion to apply, the issue must have been actually litigated, essential to the previous judgment, and determined by a valid and final judgment. Both of these doctrines are meant to promote judicial efficiency, respect court decisions, and protect parties from the burden of multiple lawsuits on the same matter. Oregon courts adhere to these principles to ensure the finality of judgments and to prevent legal disputes from being relitigated indefinitely.

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Civil procedure

res judicata and collateral estoppel

Individual & Family Legal Plan

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Oregon State Code

Oregon State Code

Civil procedure

res judicata and collateral estoppel

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