What is the primary effect of res judicata on subsequent litigation?

What is the primary effect of res judicata on subsequent litigation?

• A. It prevents the appellate court from reviewing a final judgment.
• B. It allows new claims even after a final judgment has been issued.
• C. It bars claims that could have been raised in a final judgment.
• D. It requires new evidence to challenge a final judgment.

Answer: (C)

Res judicata, or claim preclusion, means that after a court has entered a final judgment on the merits, the same party cannot bring another action based on the same claim or on claims that arise from the same nucleus of facts that could have been raised in the first suit. The primary effect is to bar those later claims in subsequent litigation, creating finality and preventing inconsistent results or duplicative suits. This protection applies when there is a final judgment on the merits, the parties are the same (or in privity in some cases), and the second action concerns the same core dispute that could have been raised previously. It does not block appellate review of the initial judgment, nor does it require new evidence to challenge a judgment, nor permit bringing new claims after a final judgment has been issued.

Res judicata, or claim preclusion, means that after a court has entered a final judgment on the merits, the same party cannot bring another action based on the same claim or on claims that arise from the same nucleus of facts that could have been raised in the first suit. The primary effect is to bar those later claims in subsequent litigation, creating finality and preventing inconsistent results or duplicative suits. This protection applies when there is a final judgment on the merits, the parties are the same (or in privity in some cases), and the second action concerns the same core dispute that could have been raised previously. It does not block appellate review of the initial judgment, nor does it require new evidence to challenge a judgment, nor permit bringing new claims after a final judgment has been issued.