Opinion ID: 2610306
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: Waiver Estoppel Law of the Case

Text: Claimants contend that by failing during the first trial to raise the issue, the state waived the five-year requirement of Probate Code, section 1026 and was estopped to assert it [at] the second trial. It is generally held that a defense based on a statute of limitations is waived unless it is pleaded or presented to the trial court in some fashion. ( Bliss v. Sneath, 119 Cal. 526, 528 [51 P. 848]; Taylor v. Sanford, 203 Cal. App.2d 330, 345 [21 Cal. Rptr. 697].) The state contends, however, that after the reversal on the first appeal in this court, the posture of the case was as if it had not been tried, and the state could amend its pleadings in the discretion of the trial court. (See 3 Witkin, Cal. Procedure (1954) pp. 2382-2383 and cases there cited.) This contention must prevail. (7) While piecemeal litigation is to be discouraged, and while in the interest of the orderly administration of justice, the trial court should exercise caution in permitting the amendment of pleadings after trial and appeal ( Dressler v. Johnston, 131 Cal. App. 690, 695 [21 P.2d 969]), nevertheless, such amendment is a matter within the discretion of the trial court ( Trower v. City and County, 157 Cal. 762, 769 [109 P. 617]; see Dressler v. Johnston, supra, at p. 694.) The Trower case expressly approved the trial court's exercise of discretion in permitting an amendment to set up a defense of limitations not raised in the first trial or appeal. (See also Copp v. Millen, 11 Cal.2d 122, 131 [77 P.2d 1093].) (8) When the state first filed its petition to determine heirship, the section 1026 problem did not exist, inasmuch as five years had not passed since the death of the decedent. The problem first arose, not expressly but implicitly, at the time of the filing of the Second Amended Statement of Interest. But this was only five days prior to the first trial, and it is perhaps understandable that the problem was overlooked by the state in the first trial. When the state placed the matter in issue at the second trial, claimants did not claim surprise or request a continuance. Their counsel fully and articulately presented to the trial court all of the arguments advanced and most of the authorities cited on this appeal. Nor is it suggested that any additional evidence in respect to the issue might have been adduced. Under these circumstances, the trial court acted within its discretion in permitting the state to assert the issue at the second trial. ( Trower v. City and County, supra, 157 Cal. 762.) At our request, the parties have treated in their briefs the question whether the state is foreclosed from raising the section 1026 problem by the doctrine of law of the case. (9) Generally, the doctrine of law of the case does not extend to points of law which might have been but were not presented and determined in the prior appeal. ( DiGenova v. State Board of Education, 57 Cal.2d 167, 179 [18 Cal. Rptr. 369, 367 P.2d 865].) As an exception to the general rule, the doctrine is also held applicable to questions not expressly decided but implicitly decided because they were essential to the decision on the prior appeal. ( Nevcal Enterprises v. Cal-Neva Lodge, Inc., 217 Cal. App.2d 799, 804 [32 Cal. Rptr. 106]; see 3 Witkin, Cal. Procedure (1954) p. 2429.) The questions presented and determined on the prior appeal in this case were whether the survivors had established the identity of the decedent and their relationship to him, the admissibility of certain evidence, the discretion of the trial court in denying the motions to reopen and for new trial and the trial court's failure to rule on the admissibility of certain evidence. ( Estate of Horman, supra, 265 Cal. App.2d 796.) (10) The Probate Code, section 1026 problem was not raised by either party and was not expressly determined by the court. Neither can it fairly be said that determination of the issue was essential to the decision. We have concluded, therefore, that the decision on the prior appeal did not foreclose the state from asserting this matter at the second trial.