Consequences of a Finding that the Plea/Appeal is Well Founded

The fact that a plea is well founded does not mean that the appeal is well founded. The ECJ may reject the plea as an ineffective plea or proceed with a substitution of grounds. If an appeal is well founded, the Court may give final judgment itself, where ‘the state of the proceedings so permits’, or refer the case back to the General Court. It is quite difficult to determine the scope and implications of the quashing of a judgment. The General Court is bound by the decision of the Court of Justice on points of law. However, parts of the first judgment of the General Court may remain valid and wield the authority of res judicata.