Civil Procedure Multistate Bar Practice Exam

What does claim preclusion prevent?

1. Litigation on any issue previously thought of

2. Re-litigation of the same claim between the same parties

3. Any claims arising from a different event

4. Re-filing a case after it has been withdrawn

The correct answer is: Re-litigation of the same claim between the same parties

Claim preclusion, also known as res judicata, is a legal doctrine that prevents parties from re-litigating a claim that has already been decided by a competent court. This principle is rooted in the idea of finality in legal proceedings — once a court has rendered a judgment on the merits of a claim, the parties involved cannot bring that same claim arising from the same transaction or occurrence in future litigation. This helps to ensure that there is an end to litigation and prevents the judicial system from being burdened by repetitive lawsuits over the same matter. In the context of the question, this means that if two parties have engaged in a legal dispute and a court has issued a final judgment regarding the claim, neither party can bring that same claim against the other again. This understanding of claim preclusion applies even if the parties might attempt to present new evidence or arguments in a second lawsuit related to that claim. The other options do not accurately reflect the scope of claim preclusion. For example, it does not prevent litigation on any issue that was previously thought of, nor does it apply to claims arising from entirely separate events. Additionally, it does not cover situations involving the withdrawal of a case; parties may choose to withdraw a case and refile it later