collateral estoppel
Issues that were actually litigated between two parties may operate as an
"estoppel" as to those issues in other litigation. For example, a truck is shown
to be defective in design due to placement of its fuel tank. Collateral estoppel
might prevent this same issue of defect being litigated over and over again
in subsequent trials. This is a key consideration when the same issue is being
litigated in different cases all around the country.