Culture and Predictability of Law

Introduction.- Part I – Res Judicata on the Matter in Common Law – Especially in U.S. Law.- 1. From Estoppel to Res Judicata on the Matter.- 2. Collateral Estoppel in U.S. Law.- 3. The Breakdown of the Mutuality Rule or the Idea that Res Judicata is Restricted to the Parties.- 4. Foundations of the Break with Mutuality.- 5. The Prohibition of Re-litigating Decided Issues in the Context of Virtual Representation and Class Action.- 6. Nonmutual Collateral Estoppel, Virtual Representation, and Stare Decisis.- Part II – Res Judicata on the Matter in Civil Law – Particularly in Italian Law.- 1. The Revival of Roman Res Judicata in Chiovenda and the Insufficiency of the Doctrine that Influenced Various Civil Law Systems.- 2. Underlying Values of Limiting Res Judicata to the Claim.- 3. The Difficulty in Seeing that Res Judicata Can Be Invoked by Third Parties.- Part III – Res Judicata on the Matter in the Brazilian Code of Civil Procedure.- 1. Foundations for Extending Res Judicata to Issues, Including in Favor of Third Parties.- 2. Requirements for the Configuration of Res Judicata on the Matter.- 3. Invocation of Res Judicata on the Matter.- 4. Res Judicata on the Matter, Reasons for the Judgment, and Truth of the Facts.- 5. The Relationship Between Res Judicata on Prejudicial Issue and Res Judicata on Principal Issue.- 6. Moment of Effectiveness of Res Judicata on the Matter.- 7. Res Judicata in Favor of Third Parties.- 8. Operability of Res Judicata in Favor of Third Parties.- 9. Res Judicata on the Matter in Favor of Third Parties and Binding Precedents.- 10. Res Judicata on the Matter and Arbitration.- Conclusion.