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collateral estoppel

Collateral estoppel is a doctrine under which an earlier decision rendered by a court in a lawsuit between parties is conclusive as to the issues or controverted points so that the issues cannot be relitigated in subsequent proceedings involving the same parties.

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collateral estoppel

Collateral estoppel is a doctrine under which an earlier decision rendered by a court in a lawsuit between parties is conclusive as to the issues or controverted points so that the issues cannot be relitigated in subsequent proceedings involving the same parties.

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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.