Opinion ID: 2519890
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Res judicata generally

Text: Res judicata is a judicial doctrine that has as  `its primary objective claim preclusion or judicial finality.'  [8] Under this doctrine,  `a judgment in a prior action bars a subsequent action if (1) the prior judgment was a final judgment on the merits, (2) a court of competent jurisdiction rendered the prior judgment, and (3) the same cause of action and same parties or their privies were involved in both suits.'  [9] Res judicata implements the generally recognized public policy that there must be some end to litigation and that when one appears in court to present his case, is fully heard, and the contested issue is decided against him, he may not later renew the litigation in another court. [10] Tru-Line stipulates for the purposes of this appeal that the federal court entered a final judgment, that the previous case involved the same parties, and that the new claims arose out of the same transaction as the claims in the federal suit. But it argues that res judicata does not apply because the federal court judgment was not on the merits.