Legal Definitions - doctrine of the conclusiveness of the judgment

Definition: The doctrine of the conclusiveness of the judgment is a legal principle that prevents a party from contradicting previous declarations made during the same or an earlier proceeding if the change in position would adversely affect the proceeding or constitute a fraud on the court. This is also known as judicial estoppel under estoppel.

Example: If a person sues someone for damages and claims they were not at fault, but in a previous case, they admitted to being at fault, the doctrine of the conclusiveness of the judgment would prevent them from changing their position and denying fault in the current case. This is because it would be unfair to the other party and would undermine the integrity of the legal system.

Explanation: The doctrine of the conclusiveness of the judgment is designed to ensure that parties are held accountable for their previous statements and actions in legal proceedings. It prevents them from changing their position to gain an advantage in a current case, which would be unfair to the other party. This principle is essential to maintaining the integrity of the legal system and ensuring that justice is served.