Res judicata (Latin: "the matter has been decided") is a legal principle that prevents the same dispute between the same parties from being litigated a second time after a final judgment.
A plea of res judicata succeeds where: (1) there is a final judgment, (2) by a court of competent jurisdiction, (3) between the same parties, (4) on the same cause of action or issue. It prevents endless relitigation and promotes finality of judgments.
A plaintiff sues and loses a breach of contract claim. They cannot sue the same defendant for the same breach again — the judgment is res judicata.
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