Res Judicata Stare Decisis Law of the case Litis pendentia

cases at least 2 2 1 2

parties same maybe different same same

issues same same maybe same

facts same substantially the same substantially the same same

court with binding agreement not necessarily SC nn SC nn SC nn SC

effect if found in the latter taking up of the case/facts dismiss Court decides the same as 1st Bound by 1st decision, adjudication of the issue dismiss

finality of 1st judgment necessary necessary necessary not necessary

Doctrine of Res Judicata

Generally, res judicata is the principle that a cause of action may not be relitigated once it has been judged on the merits. "Finality" is the term which refers to when a
court renders a final judgment on the merits.

The doctrine of res judicata is founded on a public policy against re-opening that which has previously been decided, so as to put the litigation to an end. Matters settled by
a court’s final judgment should not be litigated upon or invoked again. Relitigation of issues already settled merely burdens the courts and the taxpayers, creates
uneasiness and confusion, and wastes valuable time and energy that could be devoted to worthier cases.

Res judicata refers to the rule that a final judgment or decree on the merits by a court of competent jurisdiction is conclusive of the rights of the parties or their privies in
all later suits on all points and matters determined in the former suit.5
The elements of res judicata are as follows: (1) the former judgment or order must be final; (2) the judgment or order must be on the merits; (3) it must have been
rendered by a court having jurisdiction over the subject matter and the parties; (4) there must be, between the first and the second action, identity of parties, of subject
matter and cause of action.6

Doctrine of Stare Decisis

The doctrine of stare decisis means that courts look to past, similar issues to guide their decisions. The past decisions are known as precedent. Precedent is a
legal principle or rule that is created by a court decision. This decision becomes an example, or authority, for judges deciding similar issues later

Stability and certainty in judicial decisions – that’s where the rule of law best thrives. The familiar doctrine of stare decisis commands that once a question of law has been
examined and decided, it should be deemed settled and closed to further argument. This simply means that a ruling on a certain state of facts established in a final decision
of the Philippine Supreme Court has to be followed in subsequent cases by all courts in the land where the facts are substantially the same, regardless of whether the
parties and property are the same.

Stare decisis is a legal doctrine that obligates courts to follow historical cases when making a ruling on a similar case. Stare decisis ensures that cases with similar scenarios
and facts are approached in the same way. Simply put, it binds courts to follow legal precedents set by previous decisions.

Law of the case

The law of the case is a legal term of art that is applicable mainly in common law, or Anglo-American, jurisdictions that recognize the related doctrine of stare decisis. The
phrase refers to instances where "rulings made by a trial court and not challenged on appeal become the law of the case."
The law of the case doctrine means that when a court decides upon a rule of law, that decision should continue to govern the same issues in subsequent stages in the same
case. Under the law of the case doctrine, a decision in a prior appeal is followed in later proceedings unless a party introduces substantially different evidence, or the prior
decision is clearly erroneous and works a manifest injustice.

Litis pendentia

The underlying principle of litis pendentia is the theory that a party is not allowed to vex another more than once regarding the same subject matter and for the same
cause of action. ... The first requisite of litis pendentia is present as there is identity of parties. The second and third requisites are likewise present.

Litis pendentia, as a ground for the dismissal of a civil action, refers to a situation where two actions are pending between the same parties for
the same cause of action, so that one of them becomes unnecessary and vexatious. It is based on the policy against multiplicity of suits and
authorizes a court to dismiss a case motu proprio.

The requisites of [litis pendentia] are: (a) the identity of parties or at least such as representing the same interests in both actions; (b) the identity
of rights asserted and the relief prayed for, the relief being founded on the same facts; and (c) the identity of the two cases such that judgment in
one, regardless of which party is successful, would amount to res judicata in the other.

Xxxxx

Res judicata (which means a "matter adjudged") and stare decisis non quieta et movere ([or simply, stare decisis] which means "follow past
precedents and do not disturb what has been settled") are general procedural law principles which both deal with the effects of previous but
factually similar dispositions to subsequent cases.
The focal point of res judicata is the judgment. The principle states that a judgment on the merits in a previous case rendered
by a court of competent jurisdiction would bind a subsequent case if, between the first and second actions, there exists
an identity of parties, of subject matter, and of causes of action.

The focal point of stare decisis is the doctrine created. The principle, entrenched under Article 8[152] of the Civil Code, evokes
the general rule that, for the sake of certainty, a conclusion reached in one case should be doctrinally applied to those that follow
if the facts are substantially the same, even though the parties may be different. It proceeds from the first principle of justice
that, absent any powerful countervailing considerations, like cases ought to be decided alike. Thus, where the same
questions relating to the same event have been put forward by the parties similarly situated as in a previous case litigated and
decided by a competent court, the rule of stare decisis is a bar to any attempt to re-litigate the same issue.