Restatement (Second) of Judgments

The Restatement (Second) of Judgments is a legal guideline that outlines how previous court decisions affect future cases. It establishes principles like "res judicata," which prevents parties from re-litigating issues that were already resolved in court, and "collateral estoppel," which stops parties from disputing specific facts that were decided in an earlier case. Essentially, it aims to promote fairness and efficiency in the legal system by ensuring that once a matter is settled, it doesn't have to be argued again, thereby providing stability and certainty for individuals and the legal process.