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Torts - Civil Damage Statutes - Proximate Cause Dec 1932

Torts - Civil Damage Statutes - Proximate Cause

Michigan Law Review

Defendant Campion purchased "moonshine" liquor from defendants Wrabek and wife, and gave three drinks to plaintiff's husband who shortly thereafter became unconscious, was exposed to sub-zero weather on the street during the night, and froze his hands and feet which, as a result, were amputated. Plaintiff sued for loss of support under sec. 3239 Mason's Minn. Statutes 1927 (the "civil damage" act) which provided for such action by the wife against "any person, who shall by illegally selling, bartering, or giving intoxicating liquors, have caused the intoxication of such person." On an appeal from the court's judgment for defendants Wrabek …


Torts - Due Care By Rescuer Dec 1932

Torts - Due Care By Rescuer

Michigan Law Review

Plaintiff, a woman about sixty years of age, described as "considerably overweight for her size and age," and her companion were swimming in a club pool. The companion went beyond her depth, called for help, and plaintiff went to her rescue. The lifeguard, believing plaintiff to be in difficulty, went to her rescue and, in pulling her over the bank of the pool, injured her arm, side, and back. From an award in favor of the plaintiff for $7,500, defendant, the lifeguard's employer, appealed. Held, the lifeguard owed the patron the duty of exercising ordinary care; judgment for plaintiff …


Torts - Liability Of Manufacturer To Remote Vendee Dec 1932

Torts - Liability Of Manufacturer To Remote Vendee

Michigan Law Review

In the now famous case of MacPherson v. Buick Motor Company the New York Court of Appeals was faced with the question of the liability of a motor manufacturer to a plaintiff who had purchased a car from a retailer and who had been injured at the time of the coIIapse of a defective wheel. In deciding that such a manufacturer owed a duty to use reasonable care in inspection of the wheels which were to be placed under the assembled car, Justice Cardozo said: "We hold, then, that the principle of Thomas v. Winchester is not limited to poisons, …


Torts-Malicious Prosecution-Advice Of Counsel Nov 1932

Torts-Malicious Prosecution-Advice Of Counsel

Michigan Law Review

Defendant, a practicing lawyer, lodged a complaint charging plaintiff with larceny. A criminal warrant was issued; plaintiff was arrested, but the action was dismissed when the complaining witness failed to appear at the trial. Plaintiff then brought this action for malicious prosecution. One of the grounds of defense pleaded was that which is commonly called "advice of counsel," defendant pleading that, in his judgment, the plaintiff was guilty as charged. Held, in Mawhinney v. Morrissey, that, under the facts of this case, the defense fails because the attorney-defendant was not a disinterested party.


Torts-Liability For Innocent Misrepresentation-Plaintiffs Reliance Nov 1932

Torts-Liability For Innocent Misrepresentation-Plaintiffs Reliance

Michigan Law Review

Defendant's agent innocently misrepresented the amount of special tax assessments on property purchased by plaintiff. Before purchase plaintiff searched the records at the office of the commissioner of finance. The records confirmed the agent's statement. However, after purchase, an error was discovered and the unpaid assessments were found to be greater than supposed. Plaintiff brought an action for damages. Held, in Moulton v. Norton that, as the representation was false in fact, plaintiff could recover though the representation had been made honestly.


Agency- Liability Of Principal For Torts Of Agent-Apparent Authority Jun 1932

Agency- Liability Of Principal For Torts Of Agent-Apparent Authority

Michigan Law Review

Defendant regularly delivered goods to plaintiff C. O. D. Lambert was employed by defendant to deliver such goods and collect for them, and for this purpose he was given blank re6eipts which he was authorized to fill out and sign upon being paid for the goods. The usual course of business was for Lambert to deliver to plaintiff's shipping clerk who signed the delivery bill, and then collect from plaintiff's cashier who was stationed in another room. Plaintiff's cashier never asked to see this delivery bill, but always took Lambert's word as to the amount due. For a period of …


Torts - Release Of One Responsible For Injury As Bar To Action Against Physician For Malpractice - Splitting Cause Of Action Jun 1932

Torts - Release Of One Responsible For Injury As Bar To Action Against Physician For Malpractice - Splitting Cause Of Action

Michigan Law Review

In an action brought for damages arising out of alleged negligent treatment of an injury, defendant pleaded a general release of the city of Minneapolis and other alleged joint tort-feasors whom plaintiff had first sued for damages resulting from the injury. In affirming the judgment for defendant on the pleadings, held, that the release barred the cause of action. Smith v. Mann (Minn. 1931) 239 N. W. 223.


Torts - Recklessness - Liability Of Driver Under "Host-Guest" Statute Jun 1932

Torts - Recklessness - Liability Of Driver Under "Host-Guest" Statute

Michigan Law Review

Iowa Code, 1927, sec. 5026-b1, provides that no automobile owner or operator shall be liable for injuries received by a gratuitous occupant therein, except those caused by the driver's intoxication or reckless operation. Defendant, a rather inexperienced driver, became excited upon coming to a hill and pressed the accelerator instead of the brake, causing an accident which injured plaintiff, a gratuitous passenger in the car. The jury found that defendant had been driving recklessly. In reversing for error in instruction, the court held that recklessness may or may not include wilfulness or wantonness, but always implies no care, coupled with …


Pleading - Last Clear Chance May 1932

Pleading - Last Clear Chance

Michigan Law Review

Plaintiff was riding a bicycle on a bridge. Defendant, towing a truck, sounded his horn and plaintiff drove to the left while defendant passed, but was struck by the truck. The judge charged that if defendant was travelling at an excessive rate of speed, and injury resulted from that cause, plaintiff could recover although negligent. Held, reversed, on the ground, among others, that the instruction as to least clear chance was not supported by any pleading. Steele v. Brada et al. (Iowa 1931) 239 N. W. 538.


Liability Without Fault And Proximate Cause, Fowler V. Harper May 1932

Liability Without Fault And Proximate Cause, Fowler V. Harper

Michigan Law Review

As a logical matter there seem to be two possible schemes of legal liability. The first one may be stated as follows: One may be liable for all consequences of all of his acts. While it has been suggested that this was the principle of the mediaeval law, it has been pointed out by Professor Winfield that such was never literally the case. Under this principle, as he has shown, everyone would be in jail except for these reasons: no one could legally put anyone else in jail, no one could legally keep anyone else in jail, and no one …


Corporations - Rights And Remedies Of Dissenting Stockholders Upon Consolidation And Merger May 1932

Corporations - Rights And Remedies Of Dissenting Stockholders Upon Consolidation And Merger

Michigan Law Review

Consolidation or merger of private corporations in recent years has been more and more frequent. One of the most engrossing problems when such unions take place is that of the rights and remedies of dissenting shareholders. The question which arises most frequently in cases of consolidation or merger, and that in the solution of which, paradoxicaIIy, our courts tend to expend the least amount of legal acumen, is whether the consolidation or merger of corporations operates to dissolve the constituent corporations in such a manner as materially to affect the rights of the shareholders in those corporations.


Bailments - Innkeepers - Liability For Loss Of Baggage May 1932

Bailments - Innkeepers - Liability For Loss Of Baggage

Michigan Law Review

Plaintiff, a guest at defendant's hotel, on his arrival there gave his trunk check to the head porter who, in turn, gave the check to a licensed expressman. Due to the expressman's negligence the trunk was stolen. At the trial it was shown that it was customary for the defendant to make a separate charge for trunk delivery. Held, defendant was liable for the negligent performance of the contractual duties by the expressman. Davidson v. Madison Corp. (N. Y. 1931) 177 N. E. 393.


Negligence - Amusements - Assumption Of Risk By Football Spectators May 1932

Negligence - Amusements - Assumption Of Risk By Football Spectators

Michigan Law Review

The plaintiff, a woman who had paid to witness a football game played on defendant's field, stood near the boundaries of the playing field and was hurt when hit by a player tackled at the side-line. The evidence disclosed that the field was not roped off for the minor games, that there was no policing except that done by a few school officials, and that the spectators were not required to occupy seats in the stands. Reversing the lower court, the appellate tribunal held that, under these circumstances, there was no negligence, the opinion of the majority indicating that, if …


Negligence - Proximate Cause - Intervening Criminal Act Mar 1932

Negligence - Proximate Cause - Intervening Criminal Act

Michigan Law Review

Defendant railroad company, having suffered heavily from depredations committed by a dangerous gang of train robbers, employed plaintiff's intestate as a train guard. Defendant also employed X, a member of the gang, to act as an informer and to forewarn defendant of the gang's activities. X, on one occasion, negligently failed to inform defendant of the gang's plans and plaintiff's intestate was killed by one of the robbers. Plaintiff brought action under the Federal Employer's Liability Act, as next of kin, on the theory that defendant was guilty of negligence in failing to warn the train guard, and that this …


Master And Servant - "Respondeat Superior" - Responsibility Of Master For The Malicious Act Of Servant Mar 1932

Master And Servant - "Respondeat Superior" - Responsibility Of Master For The Malicious Act Of Servant

Michigan Law Review

Plaintiff and defendant were competitors in the laundry business. While plaintiff was collecting laundry a dispute arose between him and defendant's driver over the right to certain laundry of which plaintiff had taken possession. The driver undertook to obtain it from plaintiff by force and assaulted him. Suit was brought against the laundry company as principal. Held, though arising out of the business, the assault was outside the scope of employment so defendant was not liable. Morin v. Wet Wash Laundry Company (N. H. 1931) 156 Atl. 499.


Negligence - Contribution Between Concurrent Tort Feasors - Subrogation Mar 1932

Negligence - Contribution Between Concurrent Tort Feasors - Subrogation

Michigan Law Review

A truck owner parked his truck on a public street at night knowing that the rear light was not burning. A Minnesota statute made it illegal to park a car at night without a light. The defendant negligently ran into the truck, whereby one of his companions was injured. The plaintiff, as insurer of the truck owner, paid for the injury, becoming subrogated to any right of contribution which the truck owner might have against the defendant. Held, that if the truck driver were guilty of negligence only, recovery could be had, but where there is an intentional wrong …


Torts - Federal Employers Liability Act - Misrepresentation To Gain Employment Mar 1932

Torts - Federal Employers Liability Act - Misrepresentation To Gain Employment

Michigan Law Review

P applied for a position as switchman with the defendant company. Defendant company had a rule that no one should be employed over the age of 45. Employees who had reached the age of 65 were pensioned but this limit was extended in some cases to 70. To gain employment, P, who was 49, represented that he was 38. He was accepted, and worked for 7 years when he was injured through defendant's negligence while engaged in interstate commerce. Held, his misrepresentation to gain employment did not bar recovery under the Federal Employers Liability Act, it not appearing that …


Torts - Negligence - Recent Acquisition Of Driver's License Mar 1932

Torts - Negligence - Recent Acquisition Of Driver's License

Michigan Law Review

In a suit for damages for injuries allegedly negligently inflicted upon the occupant of an automobile, plaintiff testified that defendant was driving at a high rate of speed when his car began to zigzag and finally overturned, injuring plaintiff. Defendant testified that he was driving moderately when, upon their sudden application, the brakes locked, causing the car to zigzag and overturn. There was evidence to the effect that "defendant was an inexperienced driver, having just obtained his driver's license." Defendant's motions for a nonsuit and a directed verdict were refused. Held, that the question of defendant's negligence was for …


Conflict Of Laws-Admiralty -Torts In Territorial Waters Feb 1932

Conflict Of Laws-Admiralty -Torts In Territorial Waters

Michigan Law Review

A civil wrong having been committed on board a vessel in foreign territorial waters, the tort by hypothesis being maritime and the court having jurisdiction, the problem then arises as to what law governs the disposition of the case. Stated more specifically, does the nature of admiralty jurisdiction demand that a court, in determining liability for civil wrongs committed in foreign territorial waters, should ignore or modify well-settled principles of the conflict of laws as applied to delictual obligations? This is the point of departure for the discussion to follow.


Bailments - Parking Lots Feb 1932

Bailments - Parking Lots

Michigan Law Review

The defendant operated a parking lot in the business section of the city. There were two entrances and exits, the balance of the lot being enclosed by barriers. B parked his car on the lot, paying twenty-five cents and receiving a ticket which stated: "This ticket must be surrendered when car is taken from lot." Attendants were on duty at all times. It was the custom to leave all cars unlocked and at night to move them near a shack which was occupied by the attendants. The car was stolen, and in a suit against the defendant corporation it was …


Torts - Malpractice - Master And Servant Feb 1932

Torts - Malpractice - Master And Servant

Michigan Law Review

The plaintiff, on threat of discharge from employ of defendant in case of refusal, submitted to a physical examination by a physician retained by the defendant. In making the examination the physician negligently caused a hernia. Held, the suit was not barred by the one year period of limitation on actions for malpractice because no physician-patient relation had been established, there having been nothing more than an examination, and that for the sole benefit of the defendant. Defendant was liable for the acts of the physician on the basis of respondeat superior. New York Central R.R. v. Wiler …


Torts - Negligence - Res Ipsa Loquitur As Applied To Foreign Matter In Foods Feb 1932

Torts - Negligence - Res Ipsa Loquitur As Applied To Foreign Matter In Foods

Michigan Law Review

The defendant manufactured and sold through a retailer a loaf of bread to the plaintiff's mother. The plaintiff, while eating the bread, saw a larva, five-eighths of an inch long in a slice she was about to eat, as a result of which she became sick. Held, on appeal, there was no error by the lower court in directing a verdict for the defendant on the ground that the plaintiff gave no sufficient proof of negligence, which was the basis of her action, and that negligence could not be presumed from the circumstances stated. Swenson v. Purity Baking Co. …


Damages - Death Of Minor Child Caused By Negligent Act Jan 1932

Damages - Death Of Minor Child Caused By Negligent Act

Michigan Law Review

The defendant's negligence, resulting in the death of a child four years and nine months old, caused the jury to assess damages at $4,500 in an action brought for the benefit of the parents pursuant to the terms of the Death Act, (2 N. J. Comp. Stat. 1907, 1908 (1910)) which provides that "in every such action the jury may give such damages as they shall deem fair and just with reference to the pecuniary injury resulting from such death . . . . " On appeal, the supreme court held the damages excessive, and reduced the amount of recovery …


Evidence - Burden Of Proof - Compliance With Stipulation In Bill Of Lading As To Time For Claim Of Loss Jan 1932

Evidence - Burden Of Proof - Compliance With Stipulation In Bill Of Lading As To Time For Claim Of Loss

Michigan Law Review

P purchased potatoes in Michigan. He instructed the defendant railroad to deliver the potatoes to the warehouse of B when they should arrive in Richmond. Instead, some were sent to another warehouse. Before P discovered the mistake, the potatoes had spoiled. P made claim of loss six months and twenty days after the shipment left Michigan. The bill of lading provided: "Sec. 2 (b). Claims for loss or damage . . . must be made in writing . . . within six months after a reasonable time for delivery has elapsed." The testimony of Neiss, freight clerk, who was called …


Torts -Attractive Nuisance - Natural Hazards Jan 1932

Torts -Attractive Nuisance - Natural Hazards

Michigan Law Review

The defendant maintained an open storm drain twenty feet deep which was easily accessible by means of its sloping sides. Muddy water and debris in the bottom of the drain concealed a dangerous pool formed by caved-in banks constructing a dam and by water falling from a conduit gouging out a pit. A child of ten years, while playing in the drain, fell into the hole and was drowned. Held, since the pool had not been created by an act of the defendant, the case did not fall within the attractive nuisance doctrine which requires that there be an …


Equity - Estoppel By Injunction In Subsequent Suit At Law For Damages Jan 1932

Equity - Estoppel By Injunction In Subsequent Suit At Law For Damages

Michigan Law Review

A leased to B a shop to be used as a public market. The lease contained a restrictive covenant by the lessor to lease no other shops for a like purpose. The lessor, however, leased to C, who was engaged in the same business as B, one of the shops so restricted. C took with knowledge of the restrictive covenant in B's lease. B, the plaintiff in this action, secured a final injunction in a New York court enjoining the use by C. Under the New York statute B could have obtained damages under the equity decree, but failed to …


Landlord And Tenant- Injuries To Third Persons - Liability Of Landlord Jan 1932

Landlord And Tenant- Injuries To Third Persons - Liability Of Landlord

Michigan Law Review

Plaintiff alleged that she slipped and fell upon vegetable leaves and other refuse on the sidewalk appurtenant to a fruit store owned by Nickolopulos and leased by him to Galante, thereby sustaining injuries. Held, in a suit brought against both landlord and tenant, that plaintiff stated a cause of action against the landlord, and the motion to dismiss the complaint was properly denied. Brovacko v. Nickolopulos et al. (N. J. 1931) 155 Atl. 765.


Municipal Corporations - Governmental Function - Liability For Nuisance Jan 1932

Municipal Corporations - Governmental Function - Liability For Nuisance

Michigan Law Review

Plaintiff was injured at a municipal bathing beach as the result of a dive from a spring board into shallow water. Held, that while the city was not liable for the negligent performance of a governmental function, the jury would be justified in finding that the diving board, as erected, constituted a nuisance, and that the defendant city would be liable, on that ground, for personal injuries sustained by the plaintiff. Hoffman v. City of Bristol, 113 Conn. 386, 155 Atl. 499 (1931).


Negligence - Res Ipsa Loquitur - Circumstantial Evidence Jan 1932

Negligence - Res Ipsa Loquitur - Circumstantial Evidence

Michigan Law Review

Defendant company owned, and was in possession of, a wall, from the top of which a loose piece of concrete fell and injured the plaintiff who was at work on land adjoining. In affirming a judgment for plaintiff, the court held that, while the doctrine of res ipsa loquitur did not apply, there was "evidence from which the jury could legitimately infer that the defendant was negligent in permitting loose pieces of concrete to remain on the wall." Pope v. Rending Co., (Pa. 1931) 156 Atl. 106.


Torts - Negligence - Duty To Licensee Jan 1932

Torts - Negligence - Duty To Licensee

Michigan Law Review

A former customer received permission to use the telephone in defendant's store, and, in leaving, slipped on a freshly waxed and improperly polished floor. It was held that the plaintiff enjoyed the status of an invitee, but that even as a licensee, when her presence in the store was known, her status would result in the creation of a duty to avoid injuring her by a positive act of negligence or by a failure of duty equivalent to such an act; and the failure to warn her of the condition of the floor would involve a breach of that duty. …