Authority By Estoppel - Law Dictionary Search Results

Res judicata

Res judicata, a final judgment already decided between the same parties or their privies on the same question by a legally constituted Court having jurisdiction is conclusive between the parties, and the issue cannot be raised again. The judgment may have been given by a foreign Court, Tarleton v. Tarleton, 4 M&S 21. A matter which is res judicata cannot be further gone into; but if the decision was obtained by fraud it can be set aside, Cole v. Langford, (1898) 2 QB 36. Criminal proceedings do not constitute a res judicata as regards civil proceedings arising out of the same facts, Caione v. Palace Shipping Co., (1907) 1 KB 670; and see also Anderson v. Collinson, (1901) 2 KB 107. See ESTOPPEL.When it is said that a previous decision is res judicata, it is meant that the right claimed has been adjudicated upon and cannot again be placed in contest between the same parties. A previous decision of a competent Court on fact which are the foundation of the right and the relevant law appli...