What is the law of the case rule on the doctrine of law-of-the case rule?

Recently, an additional reason for declining to apply the doctrine was announced in Searle v. Allstate Life Ins. Co. (1985) 38 Cal.3d 425, 212 Cal.Rptr. 466, 696 P.2d 1308, in which we held: "The primary purpose served by the law-of-the-case rule is one of judicial economy. Finality is attributed to an initial appellate ruling so as to avoid the further reversal and proceedings on remand that would result if the initial ruling were not adhered to in a later

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