Legal Definitions - final judgment

Final judgment is the last decision made by a court that resolves all issues in a dispute and settles the parties' rights with respect to those issues. It is the end of the legal process for that particular case.

Once a final judgment has been made, there is nothing left to be decided except for how to enforce the judgment, whether to award costs, and whether to file an appeal. A party can only file an appeal after a final judgment has been made.

For example, if a person sues another person for breach of contract, and the court makes a final judgment in favor of the plaintiff, the defendant cannot continue to argue the case. The only options left are to pay the damages awarded or to file an appeal.

It is important to note that even if there is an outstanding motion for a new trial, a final judgment can still exist. This means that a claim cannot be re-litigated once a final judgment has been made. Similarly, final judgment can refer to a final decision made on the merits for a specific issue, in which case issue preclusion would apply.

Overall, final judgment is the end of the legal process for a particular case, and it leaves nothing left to be decided except for how to enforce the judgment, whether to award costs, and whether to file an appeal.