Law Commons^™

Impostor Scams, David Adam Friedman

University of Michigan Journal of Law Reform

Impostor scams have recently become the most common type of consumer scam in America, surpassing identity theft. It has never been easier and more profitable to be an impostor scammer. Though the core of these scams dates back centuries, these fraudsters consistently find novel ways to manipulate human motives and emotions. Nonetheless, the public should not give up hope. Policymakers and private actors can slow down this scourge if they focus on the key chokepoints that impostor scammers rely upon to achieve their ends. This Article provides a roadmap for a solution to impostor scams, offering specific suggestions for mitigating …

Retaliatory Rico And The Puzzle Of Fraudulent Claiming, Nora Freeman Engstrom

Michigan Law Review

Over the past century, the allegation that the tort liability system incentivizes legal extortion and is chock-full of fraudulent claims has dominated public discussion and prompted lawmakers to ever-more-creatively curtail individuals’ incentives and opportunities to seek redress. Unsatisfied with these conventional efforts, in recent years, at least a dozen corporate defendants have “discovered” a new fraud-fighting tool. They’ve started filing retaliatory RICO suits against plaintiffs and their lawyers and experts, alleging that the initiation of certain non meritorious litigation constitutes racketeering activity— while tort reform advocates have applauded these efforts and exhorted more “courageous” companies to follow suit. Curiously, though, …

Are Artificial Tans The New Cigarette? How Plaintiffs Can Use The Lessons Of Tobacco Litigation In Bringing Claims Against The Indoor Tanning Industry, Andrea Y. Loh

Michigan Law Review

Indoor tanning salons have grown significantly in popularity during recent years. Scientific research has revealed a strong link between skin cancer and ultraviolet light exposure from indoor tanning lamps. Despite such dangers, federal regulations place minimal restrictions on the labeling of indoor tanning lamps. Indoor tanning salons work vigorously to dispel notions of a link to skin cancer, often falsely promoting various health benefits of indoor tanning. The first lawsuit for injuries resulting from indoor tanning was recently filed against an indoor tanning salon, and other such litigation is poised to follow. This Note examines three potential tort claims against …

Opting Out Of Liability: The Forthcoming, Near-Total Demise Of The Modern Class Action, Myriam Gilles

Michigan Law Review

It is reasonable to expect that courts will demonstrate great solicitude for the recent innovation that I term "collective action waivers" - i.e., contractual provisions contained within arbitration agreements whereby consumers and others waive their rights to participate in any form of collective litigation or class arbitration. The history of mass tort class actions and the hegemonic expansion of pro-arbitration jurisprudence compel this conclusion. And, as the now-dominant economic model of contract law has moved the focus of courts from the value of consent to the value of efficiency, arbitration agreements found in all manner of shrink-wrap, scroll-text and bill-stuffer …

Article 5 - Recent Developments, James J. White

Other Publications

I. Mitigation in Letter of Credit Transactions Assume a Buyer has procured a letter of credit to pay for contracted goods but no longer wants the goods. The Buyer and the Issuer would like to force the Beneficiary to mitigate. Assume that both the Issuer and Applicant repudiate their obligation or that the Applicant has failed and the Issuer repudiates its obligation to pay under the letter of credit. At the moment of repudiation the price for a gallon of the underlying oil that is the subject of the letter of credit is $.75 and that the letter of credit …

Letters Of Credit: Highlights Of Revised Article 5, Edwin E. Smith, James J. White

Other Publications

1. Under what circumstances is it bad faith for an issuer to honor a letter of credit in the face of an applicant's offer of proof of fraud by the beneficiary? 2. What is the issuer's obligation where there is a waiver by the applicant that the issue chooses not to honor? 3. What are the rights of transferees of transferable letters of credit and assigness of proceeds?

Allocation Of Loss Due To Fraudulent Wholesale Wire Transfers: Is There A Negligence Action Against A Beneficiary's Bank After Article 4a Of The Uniform Commercial Code?, Robert M. Lewis

Michigan Law Review

This Note argues that where a bank reasonably should have known of a fraud but still pays out a wire transfer to an unauthorized recipient, common law negligence should provide a basis for recovery despite the absence of an explicit Code provision imposing liability on the bank. Part I examines the UCC's language itself and analyzes possible cases, under 4A and under articles 3 and 4 by analogy, and discusses the applicability of these other parts of the UCC to wire transfers. Part II examines how extra-Code regulatory systems and the common law would determine wire transfer liability. Part II …

Negligent Accounting And The Limits Of Instrumental Tort Reform, John A. Siliciano

Michigan Law Review

This article first explores the relationship between the accountant and the reliant third party, and recounts the mounting judicial hostility to the accountant's traditional privity defense. Next, the article critically examines the arguments that have supported traditional privity-based regimes. The third section turns to the reform courts and tests whether the rationales offered for reform justify abandoning the privity requirement.

Concluding that a convincing case for reform has yet to be made and - given the complexity of a properly executed instrumental analysis - may never be made, the article's final section reconsiders the utility of instrumental reasoning as a …

Abusing The Patient: Medicare Fraud And Abuse And Hospital-Physician Incentive Plans, Kathryn A. Krecke

University of Michigan Journal of Law Reform

Part I provides a background discussion of the PPS, DRGs, and incentive plans. Part II focuses on the fraud and abuse provisions of the Medicare statute and argues that incentive plans violate the plain language · of the statute, which prohibits any knowing and willful remuneration for the inducement of referrals. Part III concentrates on the fraudulent and abusive practices that incentive plans encourage. The plans frustrate legislative intent because they encourage practices that subvert the cost-containment purposes of the PPS and have an adverse effect on patient care.

Products Liability--The Expansion Of Fraud, Negligence, And Strict Tort Liability, John A. Sebert Jr.

Michigan Law Review

While judicial acceptance of this concept of strict tort liability has been proceeding apace, far less dramatic but equally significant developments have been occurring with respect to both negligence and fraud liability. The possibility of recovering for a seller's misrepresentations concerning his product has been enhanced by a plaintiff-oriented judicial redefinition of two elements of a cause of action for fraud: defendant's knowledge of the falsity of his representation and plaintiff's reliance upon the deception. At the same time, negligence liability has often come to resemble liability without fault as courts continue to deemphasize, as a prerequisite to the application …

Torts-Negligent Misrepresentation-Abolition Of The Privity Requirement, Leon E. Irish

Michigan Law Review

Defendants, professional consulting engineers, contracted with the city of Chattanooga to design a sewage system. As part of their performance of the contract they prepared a report of geological conditions which was to be distributed by the city to prospective bidders. Plaintiff, a tunneling subcontractor, had no dealings with the defendants, but did rely on their report in making its bid. Because one of defendant's draftsmen carelessly omitted pertinent geological information from the report, it took plaintiff three weeks longer to complete the work than had been anticipated. Plaintiff sued defendant for damages for misrepresentation; held, plaintiff may recover. …

Limitation Of Actions- Substantive And Remedial Statutes - Extension Of Statutory Period For Fraud, Max H. Bergman S.Ed.

Michigan Law Review

Plaintiff brought an action under the Federal Employers' Liability Act to recover damages from the defendant employer for an industrial disease allegedly contracted more than three years prior to bringing suit. Plaintiff alleged that defendant misrepresented the time within which this action could be brought and thereby tolled the three-year statute of limitations in the FELA. Held, defendant's motion to dismiss granted. The time limitation is an integral part of the statute creating a substantive right and is not extended by fraud or misrepresentation. Glus v. Brooklyn Eastern District Terminal, (S.D. N.Y. 1957) 154 F. Supp. 863.

Contracts - Damages - Punitive Damages Awarded For Breach Accompanied By Fraudulent Act, Theodore G. Koerner

Michigan Law Review

Defendants contracted to purchase a crop of alfalfa from plaintiff, harvesting and processing to be done by defendants and payment to be ascertained according to the processed weight of the alfalfa. When defendants harvested the entire crop but failed to pay for the major part of it, plaintiff brought action for breach of contract. In addition to the non-payment, plaintiff alleged fraud on defendants' part in falsifying weight records and in otherwise scheming to cheat and defraud him. On defendants' appeal from a judgment including both compensatory and punitive damages, held, affirmed. Although punitive damages are not ordinarily recoverable …

Torts-Alienation Of Parent's Affection, John J. Edman S.Ed.

Michigan Law Review

Plaintiff, a minor child, brought a tort action against defendant for enticing her mother to desert her, thereby depriving plaintiff of support, maintenance, and maternal care and affection. The trial court sustained defendant's demurrer. On appeal, held, affirmed. The statutes of the state provide other means of support of the child, and he has no right of action for the deprivation of a parent's love and affection. Nelson v. Richwagen, (Mass. 1950) 95 N.E. (2d) 545.

Corporations-Blue Sky Laws-Liability Of Officers And Directors Of Corporation For Violation, L. W. Larson, Jr.

Michigan Law Review

Plaintiff sued a corporation and its president to recover money paid for purchase of stock sold in violation of the ''blue sky" laws of Michigan. The president, through correspondence, had induced plaintiff to complete the purchase. Plaintiff had judgment below against both defendants. The president alone appealed, contending among other things that he was not an "agent" within the meaning of the statute. Held, affirmed. The word "agent" in the Michigan statute1 includes officers and directors of the corporation whether they are authorized "agents" or are holding themselves out as "agents" of the corporation. Cleland v. Smart, 321 …

Contracts-Remedies For Misrepresentation-Measure Of Recovery, Richard J. Archer S.Ed.

Michigan Law Review

In a preceding comment in this series, the various remedies affording relief for misrepresentation were examined for the purpose of determining what remedies are available in case of an innocent misrepresentation. Discussion was directed toward actions for damages for deceit, actions at law and in equity for restitution, the recovery of damages for breach of warranty, and the action based on the enforcement of representations on a theory of estoppel. The purpose of the present comment is to re-examine these remedies to determine what relief can be obtained by each of them, assuming for this purpose that all of the …

Damages - Effect Of Defendant's Tender Of Specific Restitution Upon Plaintiff's Action To Recover The Value Of Property, William H. Kinsey

Michigan Law Review

A person who has appropriated the land or chattels of another may prefer to return the subject matter rather than be held liable for its money equivalent in a law suit brought by the rightful owner. Whether the appropriator will improve his position by tendering specific restitution presents an interesting question. Because of the numerous remedies at the owner's disposal, it is impossible to formulate a single, concise answer.

Fraud - Negligent Misrepresentation - Liability Without Fault - Contributory Negligence As A Defense, Roy L. Rogers

Michigan Law Review

Plaintiff purchased a pearl necklace from the defendant. In a suit for fraud, plaintiff alleged that the defendant had misrepresented the quality of the necklace and his own expert ability. Before purchasing, plaintiff had secured the services of another expert. The trial court found that there was no reliance by the plaintiff on the defendant's misrepresentation and that the plaintiff was guilty of contributory negligence. Held, by the trial court, (1) that lack of reliance barred recovery for fraud; (2) that contributory negligence barred recovery for negligent misrepresentation; and (3) that if New York courts recognize a liability without …

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 …

Torts - Violation Of Penal Statute As Civil Wrong - Bucketing - Intentional Wrong, Michigan Law Review

Michigan Law Review

A statute prohibited bucketing operations by dealers in securities and commodities, and provided penalties for such offenses. Plaintiff alleges that, acting without knowledge of defendant's illegal operations, he gave the defendant an order for the purchase of stock, which, he says, was not executed, as defendant reported, but "bucketed" in a manner prohibited by statute. Plaintiff sued to recover damages. Defendant demurred on the grounds (1) that the transaction referred to was not bucketing, but (2) that if it was, defendants were not liable to this plaintiff as the latter was not within the class of persons intended to be …

Damage As Requisite To Rescission For Misrepresentation: Ii, Glenn A. Mccleary

Michigan Law Review

For the purpose of an analytical study of the decisions involving rescission for misrepresentation in which the damage problem has been considered, it seems convenient to classify the cases into three groups: (1) where the representee obtains the very thing that he expected to get, but it is worth less than he was led reasonably to expect under the representations made to him; (2) where the representee obtains something substantially different than he was led to expect; and (3) where the representee obtains the very thing that he expected and it is as valuable as he expected it to be, …

Damage As Requisite To Rescission For Misrepresentation, Glenn A. Mccleary

Michigan Law Review

The decadence of equity during the nineteenth century has long been an accepted phenomenon. The attempt to make law coincide with morals in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries was followed in the nineteenth century by the gradual fixing of rules and a consequent stiffening of the legal systems, in which moral principles became lost in a mass of rules derived from such principles. What were once equitable doctrines tended to become mechanical rules. The former strength of equity has been weakened in the various jurisdictions, due in a large measure to the administration of law and equity by the same …

Torts - Fraudulent Interference With Testamentary Benefits, Michigan Law Review

Michigan Law Review

Instituting a suit for damages, plaintiff alleged by way of application for order of examination that defendants had, by fraudulent misrepresentations, diverted the established intention of decedent to provide for plaintiff in the testamentary disposition of decedent's estate, and consequently no disposition in plaintiff's favor was made, to plaintiff's loss. Held, that plaintiff stated a cause of action in tort. Bohannon v. Wachovia Bank & Trust Co., 210 N. C. 679, 188 S. E. 390 (1936).

Automobiles - Statutory Liability Of Owner - Registered Titleholder Estopped To Deny Ownership, Michigan Law Review

Michigan Law Review

Plaintiffs, injured in New York by an automobile driven by defendant's minor son, sued under a New York statute which makes the owner of an automobile liable for damages for injuries resulting from negligence of its operator. The automobile was registered in Connecticut in defendant's name to avoid compliance with the Connecticut statute which requires proof of financial responsibility as a prerequisite of registration for minors over sixteen years of age. Held, defendant estopped to prove ownership of the automobile in his son. Shuba v. Greendonner, 271 N. Y. 189, 2 N. E. (2d) 536 (1936), reversing 245 …

Quasi-Contract As An Alternative Remedy For Inducing Breach Of Tort

Michigan Law Review

In an action for money had and received, plaintiff alleged that the International Railroad Company owed plaintiff $40,000 as compensation for services rendered under an existing and valid contract of employment; that with knowledge of this fact defendant corporation, representing that it, and not plaintiff, was entitled to this sum, fraudulently conspired with International Railway Company that this sum be paid defendant instead of plaintiff, and that said amount was paid defendant, resulting in unjust enrichment under circumstances in which the law implies a promise on defendant's part to pay said sum to plaintiff. In reversing a judgment sustaining a …

Quasi-Contracts-Joinder Of Misrepresenting Agent In Purchaser's Action Against Principal For Rescission

Michigan Law Review

Plaintiff was induced to purchase stock in defendant corporation through representations as to its previous earning power made by agents of the corporation who were also joined as defendants. Plaintiff sued on a theory of rescission to recover the value of property transferred in exchange for the stock in question. Held, the agents of the corporation were properly joined as defendants. Kaufman v. Jaffee, 244 App. Div. 344,279 N. Y. S. 392 (1935).

Torts-Release Of Joint Tortfeasor

Michigan Law Review

Plaintiff, vendee, sued defendant, vendor, upon an alleged fraudulent warranty that the cows, which were the subject matter of the sale, had been immunized against hemorrhagic septicaemia, or "shipping fever." While in transit, through the negligence of the railroad, the cows were injured. Their resistance to the disease was consequently lowered and they became infected, whereby plaintiff was damaged by consequent sterility, unmarketable milk, and abortions. Plaintiff accepted $1,500 from the railroad as "settlement in full for any liability you may be under." This settlement was pleaded as a bar to the action against the vendor. Held, that plaintiff's …

Quasi-Contracts -- Sufficiency Of Technical Benefit

Michigan Law Review

A brokerage house, the R. Co., having purchased stock on margin for the plaintiff, requested a payment of $1100 in order to protect themselves in carrying the account. Doubting the financial stability of R. Co. the plaintiff decided to transfer the account to another firm, the defendant, and accordingly delivered to R. Co. a personal check naming the defendant as payee, at the same time orally directing R. Co. to transfer the stock and check to the defendant and from them receive payment in full. R. Co., however, falsely represented that the check was really theirs and that the plaintiff …

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 - 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 …