In this lesson, we'll study the doctrines that keep the same claims and issues from being contested repeatedly in multiple lawsuits.

Claim Preclusion

Let's start with claim preclusion. Claim preclusion prevents parties from relitigating, in a later lawsuit, claims that were or should have been litigated in a prior lawsuit. Claim preclusion requires that the claim be disposed of by a valid, final judgment on the merits in the first lawsuit. It also requires identity of both claims and parties...