Legal Definitions - single-controversy doctrine

The single-controversy doctrine is a legal principle that states that a plaintiff or defendant who fails to bring all claims or defenses related to a controversy in a legal proceeding cannot bring those claims or defenses in a later proceeding.

For example, if a person sues another person for breach of contract but fails to bring up all related claims in the same lawsuit, they cannot bring up those claims in a later lawsuit. This is because the single-controversy doctrine requires all related claims to be brought up in the same lawsuit.

The purpose of the single-controversy doctrine is to promote judicial efficiency and prevent multiple lawsuits over the same controversy. It ensures that all related claims are resolved in one proceeding, saving time and resources for both parties involved.