Dysinger
First English Evangelical Lutheran Church v. Dysinger
Opinion
Lead Opinion
Burroughs, J.
This case was before this court upon a previous appeal. (See First English Evangelical Lutheran Church v. Dysinger, 120 Cal. App. 139 [ 6 Pac. (2d) 522 ].) A judgment in favor of the defendants was reversed and upon a second trial judgment went for plaintiffs and the defendants have appealed therefrom. The facts of the first trial are stated in the opinion of the court and substantially the same evidence was introduced on the second trial. In the decision of the Court of Appeal above referred to certain principles of law were enunciated which thereby became the “law of the case”, and unless upon the subsequent trial the facts were essentially different, the law as determined by the previous decision is binding upon both the trial and the appellate courts. (2 Cal. Jur., pp. 944, 950, 951, secs. 555, 557.) At the second trial the defendants sought to amend their answer, but the application was denied. Thereupon counsel for defendants made an offer of proof of new evidence, which offer was rejected by the court. If the offered evidence was material then the court erred in rejecting it and the case should be remanded.