What does dismissal with prejudice imply?

Dismissal with prejudice indicates that a case has been permanently closed and cannot be refiled or brought back to court on the same basis. This type of dismissal signifies that the court has made a final judgment regarding the case, often due to substantive issues such as a failure to prove the claims, a settlement between parties, or other significant grounds for dismissal. When a case is dismissed with prejudice, the plaintiff is barred from pursuing the same claim or cause of action in the future, providing a sense of finality to the matter.

In contrast, a dismissal without prejudice allows the plaintiff the opportunity to address any issues and refile the case later, indicating that there is still a possibility to bring the action back to court if circumstances change. Other options, such as indicating a temporary pause or a dismissal due to lack of evidence, do not capture the permanent nature of a dismissal with prejudice, which is a key aspect distinguishing it from other types of case dismissals.