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Full-Text Articles in Law
Bills And Notes-Construction Of Negotiable Instruments And Contemporaneous Written Agreements, Ralph J. Isackson
Bills And Notes-Construction Of Negotiable Instruments And Contemporaneous Written Agreements, Ralph J. Isackson
Michigan Law Review
On April 12, 1938, M executed a demand promissory note, negotiable in form, payable to the order of his daughter, the plaintiff. Simultaneously M prepared and attached a written instrument to the note stating that the plaintiff agreed that she would not attempt to collect the note until M died. The attached instruments were delivered to plaintiff immediately after execution. M died May 23, 1945. Plaintiff, who held the instruments from the date of execution without making any demand for payment, filed the note with the defendant, M's administrator, as a claim against M's estate. The defendant objected …
Contracts - Right Of Donee Beneficiary, Michigan Law Review
Contracts - Right Of Donee Beneficiary, Michigan Law Review
Michigan Law Review
Defendant contractor was engaged by the city of Duluth to do sewer construction work contemplating excavation in solid rock with heavy charges of explosives. The contract made defendant "liable for any damage done to private property and injuries sustained by persons" in the course of its work. Plaintiff's nearby land was damaged by defendant's blasting operations. Held, that plaintiff, a mere donee beneficiary, was entitled to recover, although he was not a party to the contract, had furnished no consideration, and was not identified at the time the contract was made. La Mourea v. Rhude, (Minn. 1940) 295 …
Insurance - Conditional Vendor's Insurance - Effect Of Repair By Or Restoration To The Vendee Or Sub-Vendee, Michigan Law Review
Insurance - Conditional Vendor's Insurance - Effect Of Repair By Or Restoration To The Vendee Or Sub-Vendee, Michigan Law Review
Michigan Law Review
Plaintiff, a Minnesota corporation, purchased the vendor's interest in an automobile sold under a conditional sales contract. The defendant insured the plaintiff against direct loss or damage to the automobile by collision and/or upset. The vendee, without plaintiff's knowledge or consent, sold the car to a sub-vendee who drove it to Texas, became involved in an accident, and sold the wreckage to a resident of Texas who purchased in good faith. The car was rebuilt and resold. Plaintiff sued for the loss caused by the collision. Held, plaintiff may recover even though the car was repaired by others prior …
Contracts - Consideration - The Rule Of Foakes V. Beer Discarded, Arthur A. Greene Jr.
Contracts - Consideration - The Rule Of Foakes V. Beer Discarded, Arthur A. Greene Jr.
Michigan Law Review
In an action on a promissory note, by an indorsee who was not a holder in due course, the defendant pleaded the following facts. In 1930 the payee held the promissory note of the defendant, who was known to be hopelessly insolvent. An agreement was thereupon made and executed between the payee, the plaintiff and defendant, whereby the plaintiff agreed to purchase the note from the payee in exchange for his automobile. The defendant in turn agreed to turn over to the plaintiff certain livestock or produce, to pay a certain balance in cash, and also to pay the license …
Torts - Unfair Competition - Preventing Formation Of Contract, Anthony L. Dividio
Torts - Unfair Competition - Preventing Formation Of Contract, Anthony L. Dividio
Michigan Law Review
The Supreme Court of Minnesota was recently confronted with an interesting problem in the case of Johnson v. Gustafson. Real property was listed by the owner with the plaintiff, a real estate broker, who was to receive a $300 commission if she found a purchaser therefor. The plaintiff interested one Clarity in the property, but no offer to purchase was made. Desiring the property but being unwilling to pay the full price of $6,000, Clarity induced his friend Gustafson to purchase it for $5,700 with Clarity's money, directly from the owner, who had a right to sell it himself …
Contracts - Fraud - Defrauded Purchaser Of Land On Contract, Jacob L. Keidan
Contracts - Fraud - Defrauded Purchaser Of Land On Contract, Jacob L. Keidan
Michigan Law Review
Defendant filed a counterclaim for damages for deceit in an action brought by the vendor in a land contract. The facts showed that substantial payments had been made both before and after defendant's discovery of the fraud. The court held that defendant's performance of the contract subsequent to his discovery of the fraud constituted a "waiver" of the fraud. Monroe v. Hoffman, 276 Mich. 281, 267 N. W. 836 (1936).
Contracts - Interpretation - "Permanent Employment'', Michigan Law Review
Contracts - Interpretation - "Permanent Employment'', Michigan Law Review
Michigan Law Review
Plaintiff, a consulting engineer, had developed a clientele affording him a weekly income of $200, and was considering Purdue University's attractive offer of an associate professorship. Knowing these facts, defendant corporation proposed by telephone that if plaintiff would reject the Purdue offer and agree to purchase the home of defendant's power superintendent, it would give plaintiff permanent employment at a salary of $600 per month. Relying thereon, plaintiff immediately accepted, rejecting the Purdue offer, contracting to purchase the home, and performing his duties under the employment contract for about twenty-two months, after which defendant discharged him without cause. In affirming …
Contracts - Indefiniteness - Effect Of Buyer's Right To Require Alternative Performance
Contracts - Indefiniteness - Effect Of Buyer's Right To Require Alternative Performance
Michigan Law Review
A buyer, who had agreed to take a certain number of gallons of oil within a viscosity range comprising seven weights, each weight being listed at a different price, repudiated his contract without having specified any of the seven types. In a suit by the seller to recover for breach of contract, held, as the indefiniteness of the agreement precluded any damages save those based on speculative, average, or other arbitrary price, it was not enforcible and plaintiff could not recover for defendant's refusal to accept oil. Wilhelm Lubrication Co. v. Brattrud, (Minn. 1936) 268 N. W. 634.1
Quasi Contracts-Liability Of Landowner For Repairs Furnished Without Request
Quasi Contracts-Liability Of Landowner For Repairs Furnished Without Request
Michigan Law Review
Plaintiff furnished labor and materials for repairs to a farm house owned by defendant. The work was done without the knowledge of defendant at the request of defendant's brother who was occupying the place at the time and who had formerly been the owner. Plaintiff sued to foreclose a materialman's lien, but the lien was disallowed because not filed in time. It was held, nevertheless, that even though plaintiff was unable to prove either a contract with defendant or an agency relationship between defendant and his brother, plaintiff could still recover the reasonable value of the benefits furnished to …
Constitutional Law-Validity Of Statute Exempting Insurance Benefits From Process For Debts
Constitutional Law-Validity Of Statute Exempting Insurance Benefits From Process For Debts
Michigan Law Review
C, a judgment creditor of W, instituted garnishment proceedings to recover the amount of the judgment out of moneys owed by the X insurance company to W as beneficiary of H's life insurance. Subsequently the Arkansas legislature passed a statute exempting all moneys paid or payable to any resident of the State as the insured or beneficiary designated under any life, sickness, or accident insurance policy, from liability or seizure under judicial process, and provided that such benefits should not be subjected to the payment of any debt. Held, by a unanimous decision of the United …
Contracts - Consideration - Agreement To Reduce Rent Reserved In Lease
Contracts - Consideration - Agreement To Reduce Rent Reserved In Lease
Michigan Law Review
Plaintiff sued defendants, who were trustees of a business trust, to enforce personal liability upon them for accrued rent due under a lease. When the lessee company, which was losing money because of the depression, threatened to vacate the premises, the plaintiff acquiesced in the lessee's demand that the rent be reduced for the balance of the term. Plaintiff sought to recover the amount due under the lease, claiming that the agreement for reduction was without consideration and therefore a nullity. Held, that in view of plaintiff's knowledge of the lessee's financial condition, the latter's agreeing to remain in …
Contracts - Fraud - Effect Of Provision In Contract That Representations Of Seller's Agent Are Not Binding
Michigan Law Review
Plaintiff sued on promissory notes given it by defendant in part payment of the purchase price for a dumptor. Defendant counterclaimed on the ground that he was induced to buy the dumptor because of fraudulent misrepresentations made by the plaintiff's agent. The contract contained the stipulation that "no representations made by an agent not included herein shall be binding," and therefore the plaintiff contended that the jury could not consider any of the false statements made by its agent. Held, said statement is ineffectual to preclude the defendant from asserting fraud. National Equipment Corp. v. Volden, (Minn. 1934) …
Insurance - Conditions Precedent To Existence Of Contract
Insurance - Conditions Precedent To Existence Of Contract
Michigan Law Review
The application for a non-medical-examination insurance policy, and the policy itself, contained the provision that the policy should not take effect if the insured should die before the date thereof or if, on such date, the insured should not be in sound health. At the time of delivery of the policy the insured was actually suffering from high blood pressure or heart disease, although this condition was unknown to him. A statute provided that the statements made in the application as to the physical condition of the insured should be valid and binding upon the insurance company "unless wilfully false …
Injunction - Mutuality- Personal Service Contract
Injunction - Mutuality- Personal Service Contract
Michigan Law Review
Plaintiff and defendant entered into a contract whereby plaintiff was to teach defendant boxing and to use his best efforts to negotiate and manage boxing bouts for defendant over a period of five years, the proceeds of the contests to be divided between plaintiff, defendant, and a brother of defendant on a percentage basis. Defendant agreed not to engage, during the life of the contract, in any "boxes, exhibition fights, or theatrical performances except such as have been procured by" the plaintiff. On appeal by defendant from a temporary injunction restraining his breach of the negative covenant, held, assuming …