Res judicata means?

• A. A matter that has been adjudicated by a competent court may be revisited on appeal.
• B. A matter that has been adjudicated by a competent court may not be pursued further in court.
• C. A matter after judgment can be re-litigated if new evidence arises.
• D. A matter can be decided by arbitration.

Answer: (B)

Res judicata means that once a matter has been finally decided by a court of competent jurisdiction, the same matter cannot be pursued again in court. This principle is all about finality: after a proper judgment on the merits, you shouldn’t be able to bring the same claim again, against the same parties or those in privity, in another lawsuit. It prevents conflicting judgments and endless litigation.

Think of it as a rule that closes the door on relitigating the same dispute after a full and final decision. It does not refer to appealing the decision (an appeal reviews the judgment, not a fresh lawsuit), nor does it allow bringing a new case just because new evidence has appeared (that would undermine finality). It also isn’t about arbitration, which is a separate process with its own rules about finality.