美国民事既判力之争点排除效规则述评

A Review of the Rules of Issue Preclusion of Res Judicata in America

争点排除效是美国民事既判力的效力之一,它的基本含义是指如果当事人已经就某一争点在前诉中进行过实质性地讼争,并且该争点已由法院作出定论,而且该争点对于前诉判决之作出确系必要,那么当事人就不得就上述同一争点再行讼争。在实践中,美国法院相当弹性地适用争点排除规则,形成了相当多的例外,主要有:因说服责任不同而产生的例外;因不可预见性而产生的例外;以及缺乏充分、公正的抗辩机会而产生的例外。

Issue preclusion is one of the effects among res judicata in America, which means that a party may not relitigate the same issue that was actually litigated and was essential to the judgment rendered. In practice, American courts apply issue preclusion quite flexibly, invoking many exceptions in situations mainly as follows： exceptions arising from different burden of persuasion, exceptions arising from unforeseeability; and exceptions arising from lacking of full and fair opportunities.