Opinion ID: 2613979
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: the settled-law-of the-case effect

Text: The settled-law-of-the-case doctrine forbids retrial of any issue previously determined by an appellate opinion that is final in the sense that all proceedings for its review have been exhausted. [17] When in Eversole I the issue of the will's ambiguity was first raised, the Court of Appeals held that the will's language was ambiguous. [18] On certiorari before us now the sons maintain that the Court of Appeals in Eversole II did not follow the settled law of Eversole I; we agree. That the will was ambiguous became finally settled when certiorari in Eversole I was denied on February 21, 1990 and no further proceedings for review were taken. It was hence impermissible for the Court of Appeals to hold in Eversole II that the will is unambiguous.