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Full-Text Articles in Law
Motor Vehicles--Legislation--The Michigan Motor Vehicle Accident Claims Act, Michigan Law Review
Motor Vehicles--Legislation--The Michigan Motor Vehicle Accident Claims Act, Michigan Law Review
Michigan Law Review
With the adoption of the Michigan Act, Michigan has become the fifth state to adopt a comprehensive program utilizing both the insurance and the fund approaches. Moreover, the Michigan Act, apparently inspired by its Ontario prototype, contains some elements which were previously unknown in United States legislation. Consequently, it may prove enlightening to examine the scope and purpose of the Michigan Act, and to compare it with similar legislation in other states.
Municipal Corporations- Tort Immunity - Liability For Personal Injuries Caused By Nuisance Maintained By City, James Hourihan
Municipal Corporations- Tort Immunity - Liability For Personal Injuries Caused By Nuisance Maintained By City, James Hourihan
Michigan Law Review
Plaintiff, while in the bathhouse of a municipally owned and operated swimming pool, was injured by a shock received from an electric hair dryer. In sustaining plaintiff's claim against the city for damages, the trial court recognized liability for personal injuries caused by a nuisance created and maintained by a city as an exception to the common law doctrine of municipal immunity from tort liability. On appeal, held, reversed. The nuisance exception from a municipality's common law immunity extends only to injuries to real property occasioned by a municipally created and maintained nuisance. City of Decatur v. Parham, …
Municipal Corporations - Tort Liability - Liability For Torts Committed By Municipal Employees In Exercise Of Governmental Functions, Ralph E. Boches
Municipal Corporations - Tort Liability - Liability For Torts Committed By Municipal Employees In Exercise Of Governmental Functions, Ralph E. Boches
Michigan Law Review
Plaintiff sued the Town of Cocoa Beach for damages for the alleged wrongful death of her husband. Plaintiff's husband had died of smoke suffocation after being locked in a jail which was left unattended by the city jailor. The lower court dismissed plaintiff's complaint. On appeal, held, reversed. A person injured by the negligence of a municipal employee acting within the scope of his employment may recover against the municipal corporation. Hargrove v. Town of Cocoa Beach, (Fla. 1957) 96 S. (2d) 130.
Municipal Corporations-Tort Liability Of Municipality For Injury Caused By Neglect To Perform Mandatory Duty, J. S, Ransmeier S.Ed.
Municipal Corporations-Tort Liability Of Municipality For Injury Caused By Neglect To Perform Mandatory Duty, J. S, Ransmeier S.Ed.
Michigan Law Review
By statute the State of New Jersey imposed upon every New Jersey municipality the obligation to insure the drivers of municipal motor vehicles against liability for damages resulting from the operation of such vehicles. The Township of Lyndhurst neglected to procure insurance in favor of plaintiff, and a personal judgment was recovered against him for his negligent operation of a township fire truck while in pursuance of his municipal duties. Plaintiff brought the present action to recover from the municipality for its breach of the statutory obligation. Judgment below was for defendant. On appeal, held, affirmed, three justices dissenting. …
Municipal Corporations-Tort Liability-Failure To Replace Damaged Traffic Signal, Wendell B. Will
Municipal Corporations-Tort Liability-Failure To Replace Damaged Traffic Signal, Wendell B. Will
Michigan Law Review
A city failed to replace a damaged traffic signal. A motorist entered the intersection against the inoperative light and injured a driver who had entered the intersection relying on a functioning green signal. Held, the city was negligent in the exercise of a corporate duty, as distinguished from a governmental function, and, as the negligence was the proximate cause of the injury, was liable. Johnston v. City of East Moline, 405 Ill. 460, 91 N.E. (2d) 401 (1950).
Negligence-Guest Statutes-Applicability To Operation Of Automobile On Host's Premises, Janice Richardson
Negligence-Guest Statutes-Applicability To Operation Of Automobile On Host's Premises, Janice Richardson
Michigan Law Review
Plaintiff accompanied a friend to defendant's garage to park the friend's automobile and later returned alone, without a claim check, to obtain a package she had left in the automobile. An attendant, who was about to park another automobile, invited her to ride to the second Hoor to secure the package herself. Plaintiff was injured when the attendant negligently drove the automobile against an elevator. Held, judgment for defendant affirmed. Plaintiff was a guest within the meaning of the Ohio guest statute and could not recover for injuries unless caused by willful or wanton misconduct. Kilgore v. U-Drive-It Co. …
Municipal Corporations - Tort Liability - Exemplary Damages, Michigan Law Review
Municipal Corporations - Tort Liability - Exemplary Damages, Michigan Law Review
Michigan Law Review
Plaintiff was injured in a collision between the car in which she was riding and a negligently driven fire truck owned by the defendant municipality. Plaintiff's declaration alleged that the fire trucks had been habitually driven in a grossly negligent manner, but the evidence offered at the trial did not substantiate this allegation. The trial court instructed the jury that it could include in the verdict such sum as might be warranted by the evidence as punitive or exemplary damages. The jury awarded $5,000 damages. Held, that plaintiff could recover for torts committed by the fire department, and that …
Husband And Wife-Wife's Right To Recover For Loss Of "Consortium" Due To Injury To Husband From Wrongful Sale Of Liquor, William C. Whitehead
Husband And Wife-Wife's Right To Recover For Loss Of "Consortium" Due To Injury To Husband From Wrongful Sale Of Liquor, William C. Whitehead
Michigan Law Review
Plaintiff sued for loss of her right of consortium occasioned by the illness and death of her husband as a result of a sale of liquor by defendant in violation of a state statute. Defendant demurred on the ground that there was no cause of action granted by the statute for damages flowing from such an illegal sale. Held, an action for injury to the wife's right of consortium was available at common law. Swanson v. Ball, (S. D. 1940) 290 N. W. 482.
Sales - Implied Warranty - Liability Of A Water Company, Edmund R. Blaske
Sales - Implied Warranty - Liability Of A Water Company, Edmund R. Blaske
Michigan Law Review
Defendant, a city engaged in supplying water to its inhabitants, was sued by plaintiff, a consumer, for injuries resulting from plaintiff's drinking of lead-poisoned water at a faucet in his home. The water, although pure at the meter, became poisoned when passing through a lead pipe inspected and approved by the water company but owned by the plaintiff. Plaintiff brought his action on two different theories: (1) on implied warranty; (2) in negligence. The trial court instructed the jury without exception or objection from defendant that they might find for plaintiff, under either of these theories. The defendant was successful …
Automobiles - Statutory Liability Of Owner - Registered Titleholder Estopped To Deny Ownership, Michigan Law Review
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 …
Foreign Enforcement Of Actions For Wrongful Death, William H. Rose
Foreign Enforcement Of Actions For Wrongful Death, William H. Rose
Michigan Law Review
Actions for wrongful death have a long history in the common law. Homicide was once a private matter giving rise to the blood feud and later to the wergild, whereby a money substitute replaced private warfare. With the development of criminal law the crown took jurisdiction over all killings. At a time when all felonies carried with them the death penalty, forfeiture of chattels and escheat of lands, the right to sue for wrongful death was scarcely of practical importance. This was especially so since felony included negligent killing, and even an accidental killing required the king's pardon if …
Damages - Death Of Minor Child Caused By Negligent Act
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 …
Trusts-Right Of Trustee To Reimbursement For Tort Liability
Trusts-Right Of Trustee To Reimbursement For Tort Liability
Michigan Law Review
The recent New York case, In re Lathers presents the question seldom before raised whether a trustee may be reimbursed from the trust estate for tort liability to a third person through his negligence in management of the estate. In that case, as a result of fire in an apartment building of the trust property, the trustee suffered judgments for $62,000 plus costs. The rooms of one apartment, rented by the trustee's agent, had been closed off by the lessee to form several small apartments. For the one subleased to the tort creditor, access to fire escapes, adequate normally, was …
Recent Important Decisions
Michigan Law Review
A collection of recent important court decisions.