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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 Vermont, res judicata, or 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. Similarly, issue preclusion, also known as collateral estoppel, bars the relitigation of specific issues that were already decided in a previous lawsuit between the same parties. The purpose of these doctrines is to promote judicial efficiency, uphold the integrity of court judgments, and protect parties from the burden of multiple lawsuits on the same matter. Both federal and state courts in Vermont recognize and apply these principles to ensure that once a dispute is resolved, it remains settled, barring any appeals or other extraordinary legal remedies.

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Civil procedure

res judicata and collateral estoppel

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Vermont State Code

Vermont State Code

Civil procedure

res judicata and collateral estoppel

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