Court Opinion

ID: 9768013
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-29 05:38:29.765348+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:30:35.568548
License: Public Domain

STEPHENSON, Justice,
dissenting.
I do not agree that the law of the case rule applies to the Court of Appeals. Although there are many cases which have applied the rule, there are exceptions. In Union Light, Heat & Power Co. v. Blackwell’s Adm’r, Ky., 291 S.W.2d 539, 542 (1956), the opinion in speaking of the rule stated:
“Notwithstanding the firmness of this rule in general, a number of courts have maintained and held that the rule is not inflexible but is subject to exception, although the exception must be rare and the former decision must appear to be clearly and palpably erroneous. In such a case it is deemed to be the duty of the court to admit its error rather than to sanction an unjust result and ‘deny to litigants or ourselves the right and duty of correcting an error merely because of what we may be later convinced was merely ipse dixit in a prior ruling in the same case.’ ”
Union Light was cited with approval in declining to follow the law of the case rule in Folger v. Commonwealth, Ky., 350 S.W.2d 703 (1961), and Frenel v. Commonwealth, Department of Highways, Ky., 361 S.W.2d 280 (1962).
These cases recognize there should be some flexibility in applying the rule in order for an appellate court to correct a palpable error in the first opinion.
Over and above this comment as to the desirability of permitting the Court of Appeals to correct its first opinion, I am of the opinion that failure to file a motion for discretionary review should not preclude this court from a later review of the case such as here.
For instance had a motion for discretionary review been filed here and denied by this court, it would not alter the situation. Rule 76.20(9)(a) provides, “... The denial of a motion for discretionary review does not indicate approval of the opinion or order sought to be reviewed and shall not be cited as connoting such approval.”
We could apply the law of the case rule to the Court of Appeals; and even this should not preclude us from reviewing the legal proposition by granting a motion for discretionary review, for the reason wheth*853er a motion for discretionary review had been filed and denied or not filed, we have not decided the case. For our purpose there has been no law of the case.
We have a vehicle to correct a palpable error. We should use it. The majority opinion by dictum raises a flag showing the court unanimously rejects the concept that a professional degree is marital property.
I would prefer to permit the Court of Appeals more flexibility in applying the law of the case rule and to say that in any event the law of the case as applied to the Court of Appeals does not preclude this court from granting a motion for discretionary review to resolve the question.
Accordingly I dissent.
AKER, J., joins this dissent.