Also known as: adjudicate on the merits · adjudicates on the merits · adjudicating on the merits · adjudication on the merits · decided on the merits · judgment on the merits
Written by attorneys · grounded in primary & secondary sources — see below
A final court determination that resolves the substantive rights and liabilities of the parties rather than disposing of the case on procedural grounds alone.
Anika Anand sued Apollo Energy in federal court for breach of a supply contract. The court dismissed the action after finding the claim time-barred. When Anika filed a second suit on the same facts in another district, Apollo moved to dismiss on claim preclusion grounds. The second court treated the prior dismissal as an adjudication on the merits and barred the new action.
Antonio Alvarado filed a products liability suit against Apex Dynamics but repeatedly missed discovery deadlines and failed to appear at a scheduled status conference. On Apex's motion the court dismissed the action under Rule 41(b). Because the order did not state otherwise, the dismissal operated as an adjudication on the merits that precluded Antonio from refiling the same claim.
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Alice Atkins brought a voting-rights challenge against state election officials. The district court dismissed for lack of a justiciable controversy. On appeal the higher court held that the claim presented a live controversy suitable for judicial resolution and therefore required an adjudication on the merits rather than a jurisdictional dismissal.
Andrew Avery, a federal taxpayer, sued to enjoin an allegedly unconstitutional spending program. The court examined whether Andrew had standing and concluded that his claim satisfied the necessary nexus to permit an adjudication on the merits of the constitutional challenge.
Alexandra Armstrong obtained a final judgment against Spendthrift Farm. Congress later enacted a statute that would reopen the judgment. The Court held that the statute violated separation of powers because it attempted to alter the result of an adjudication on the merits already rendered by an Article III court.
Aether Technologies sued a state agency and obtained a consent decree that changed the agency's practices. The court later denied fees because the decree did not constitute an adjudication on the merits that materially altered the legal relationship of the parties.
Yes. Under Rule 41(b) a dismissal for failure to prosecute or to comply with court orders operates as an adjudication on the merits unless the order states otherwise.
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Jurisdictions differ. Some treat a limitations dismissal as an adjudication on the merits that bars refiling while others do not. The Supreme Court has held that Rule 41(b) itself does not dictate the preclusive effect.
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Under 28 U.S.C. § 2254(d) a federal court may not grant habeas relief on any claim that was adjudicated on the merits in state court unless the state decision was contrary to clearly established federal law or based on an unreasonable factual determination.
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…v. Templeton , 185 U. S. 487, 493. "For it is well settled that the failure to state a proper cause of action calls for a judgment on the merits and not for a dismissal for want of jurisdiction." Bell v. Hood , 327 U. S. 678, 682. See also Binderup v. Pathe Exchange , 263 U. S. 291, 305-308. Since the complaint plainly sets…