Res judicata or collateral estoppel, claim or issue preclusion, assumption of risk, a contributory or comparative negligence, duress, fraud as a defense, release waiver.
Whether in trial court or on appeal, recognizing when preclusion applies, and when exceptions may arise, can significantly influence the outcome of a dispute.
Offensive non-mutual issue preclusion, by contrast, arises when a new plaintiff seeks to rely on a finding made against the defendant in an earlier suit.