former adjudication
former adjudication. A judgment in a prior action that resulted in a final determination of the rights of the parties or essential fact questions and serves to bar relitigation of the issues relevant to that determination. • Collateral estoppel and res judicata are the two types of former adjudication. See COLLATERAL ESTOPPEL; RES JUDICATA. [Cases: Judgment 540, 634. C.J.S. Judgments §§ 697–703, 707, 779–782, 834.]