Legal Definitions - former adjudication

Definition: Former adjudication refers to a legal judgment made in a previous case that resulted in a final decision on the rights of the parties involved or essential factual questions. This decision serves as a bar to relitigating the same issues in a future case. There are two types of former adjudication: collateral estoppel and res judicata.

Collateral estoppel: In a previous case, a court determined that a defendant was not liable for a car accident. In a subsequent case involving the same accident, the plaintiff cannot relitigate the issue of the defendant's liability because it was already decided in the previous case.

Res judicata: In a previous case, a court determined that a plaintiff was not entitled to damages for breach of contract. In a subsequent case involving the same contract, the plaintiff cannot relitigate the issue of damages because it was already decided in the previous case.

These examples illustrate how former adjudication prevents parties from relitigating issues that have already been decided in a previous case. This helps to promote finality and efficiency in the legal system.