term:

Preclude

preclude vt

pre·clud·ed
pre·clud·ing
: to prevent or exclude by necessary consequence [the requirement of a marriage ceremony s the creation of common-law marriages in this jurisdiction]: as
a : to prevent (a party) from litigating an action or claim esp. by collateral estoppel or res judicata [they are precluded only because they failed to assert…the grounds for recovery they now assert "Roach v. Teamsters Local Union No. 688, 595 F.2d 446 (1979)"]
b : to prevent (a claim or action) from being litigated esp. by collateral estoppel or res judicata [the Civil Service Reform Act provides the exclusive address for adverse federal employment actions and thus s claims brought under the Tort Claims Act "National Law Journal"]
pre·clu·sion [-klü-zhən]
n

pre·clu·sive [-klü-siv]
adj

Source: Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law ©1996. Merriam-Webster, Incorporated. Published under license with Merriam-Webster, Incorporated.