Law Commons^™

Conditions In Bills And Notes, Ralph W. Aigler

Michigan Law Review

Remembering that at least the early use of negotiable instruments was very largely as a substitute for money in making payments and exchanges of credit generally, it is not surprising that it should have been deemed a prime requirement of such documents that they should be unconditional in their orders and promises. Uncertainties as to the responsibility of parties are no doubt inevitable, but the element of chance may be eliminated at least as to the content of the instrument. The usefulness of commercial paper would be seriously impaired if business men and others proposing to take such instruments in …

Anticipatory Repudiation Of Contracts And Necessity Of Election, L. Vold

Michigan Law Review

Where a breach of contract takes place several courses of conduct are normally open to the aggrieved promisee. He may bring an action for damages. He often may rescind for the breach. He sometimes may sue for specific performance. He may accept later performance on account. He may try to persuade the defaulting party to live up to the contract. He may for the time being ignore both the contract and the breach. If he follows certain of these courses of conduct others may thereby become impossible. He thus has an election of remedies, a choosing between inconsistent courses of …

Tort Liability Of A Landlord, Raymond Harrison Harkrider

Michigan Law Review

The discussion thus far has dealt with the tort liability of a landlord for failing to perform some duty owed by him to persons upon the demised premises. There remains to be considered the tort liability of a landlord who fails to perform some duty owed by him to persons not upon the demised premises. The majority of the people composing this class are users of property adjoining that of the landlord. The cases dealing with the landlord's duties to persons upon the demised premises should always be distinguished from those dealing with his duties to persons using adjoining property. …

Life Tenant And Remainderman-Income From Corporate Shares In Trust-Extraordinary Cash Or Stock Dividends

Michigan Law Review

A testator devises a block of corporate shares in trust,--the income to go to a life tenant for life, remainder to another as remainderman. So long as dividends are paid regularly, and in cash, distribution is a simple matter for the trustee. Dividends declared after the testator's death and before the death of the life tenant, are income and go to the life tenant; the rule operates regardless of when the profits which justify the declared dividends were earned. A real problem arises, however, when the corporation allows a surplus to accumulate for some time and then declares an extraordinary …

The Doctrine Of "Hot Pursuit"--A New Application

Michigan Law Review

A recent decision of the United States District Court for the District of South Carolina involves a point apparently unique in the records of international law. The Vinces, a schooner of British registry, laden with a cargo of intoxicating liquors not under seal, was discovered by the United States Coast Guard cutter Mascoutin seven and one-half miles off the coast and within one hour's sailing distance from the United States headed in the direction of land. On being hailed by the Mascoutin, the Vinces turned about and headed for the high seas. The cutter followed in continuous chase and overtook …

Recent Important Decisions

Michigan Law Review

A collection of recent important court decisions.

Torts-Imputed Negligence-Common Enterprise

Michigan Law Review

The Supreme Court of Iowa has recently held that a family group engaged in a pleasure ride was a "common enterprise which no one had any particular right to control" and negligence on the part of the driver might be imputed to the other occupants of the car, barring recovery for an injury caused by the concurring negligence of the driver and the defendant. This, to say the least, is an expansion of the generally accepted doctrine of imputed negligence in America.

Surgeon's Liability For Operation Without The Patient's Consent

Michigan Law Review

Under the maxim volenti non fit injuria, a surgeon may inflict upon the body of his patient what otherwise would amount to a technical battery. The consent of the patient justifies the application of force to his person. Zoterell v. Repp, 187 Mich. 319, 153 N.W. 692; Robinson v. Crotwell, 175 Ala. 194, 57 So. 23; King v. Carney, 85 Okla. 62, 204 Pac. 270; POLLOCK, TORTS, 159; BURDICK, LAW OF TORTS, 110; TORTS, RESTATEMENT No. 1, Sec. 66. A generally accepted limitation to this doctrine is that consent to the commission of an unlawful act …

Book Reviews

Michigan Law Review

A collection of book reviews by multiple authors.

The Corporation Sole

Michigan Law Review

In the recent case of Reid v. Barry, the Florida court stirred among the bones of common law relics to invoke the aid of the corporation sole doctrine, coming to the conclusion that the Roman Catholic Bishop of St. Augustine was a sole corporation, capable of holding property by succession. The ancient learning on this anomalous but useful corporate entity is to be found in Blackstone, Coke, and Grant ; the few reported cases that have appeared since the days of these commentators have in general confirmed what they said. Maitland in delving into its history said; "An ecclesiastical …

The Law Institute And The Teacher Of Law, Herbert F. Goodrich

Michigan Law Review

The American Law Institute will soon be five years old. It is not necessary here to describe its aims and purposes; every law teacher knows of the state of our law that brought the Institute into being, and of the high hopes which are entertained of its influence and accomplishments. Beginnings have been made in Trusts and Property. Substantial progress has been shown in Agency, Contracts, Conflict of Laws, and Torts, as well as the code of criminal procedure. We have by this time an appreciable amount of the product of the body which is restating our law. How can …

Tort Liability Of A Landlord, Raymond Harrison Harkrider

Michigan Law Review

At Common Law. According to the rules of the common law a landlord is under no legal duty to repair the demised premises during the term unless he expressly agrees to do so. It therefore may be stated, as a general rule, that he is liable neither to the tenant nor to the tenant's invitees for injuries caused by the premises falling into a state of disrepair during the term.

Equity-Bill To Remove Cloud From Title

Michigan Law Review

Plaintiff who was holder of a long term lease on the land and buildings in Chicago known as the Auditorium found that its plans for rebuilding so as to secure a return commensurate with its investment were seriously interfered with by the defendant lessors who took the position that wrecking the old building would constitute such waste as would work a forfeiture of the lease. The publicity of these claims, made the financial underwriters insist on a settlement of them before advances were made. Under this posture of affairs, the plaintiff filed a bill in the United States District Court …

International Law-Extraterritorial Criminal Jurisdiction

Michigan Law Review

The importance of assertions of the right to punish extraterritorial crime is directly related to the advance of international commercial and social intercourse. The earliest serious attempts to assert such a jurisdiction date only from the eighteenth century. Now, practically every state exercises some degree of jurisdiction over offenses committed abroad. But the extent of the power claimed by the different nations varies so as to cause doubt as to what is the international rule on the subject.

Corporations-Debts In Excess Of Statuatory Limit

Michigan Law Review

Business Corporations generally have the power to borrow money for the purpose of their ordinary business, and to give the customary evidence of the debt and security therefor. Such power can be limited only by statute or by the charter. Statutes frequently provide that corporations should not incur indebtedness in excess of some particular stated amount, usually a certain proportion of the capital stock. A recent Nebraska case allowed the lender full recovery from the guarantor of corporate notes given in exchange for a loan in excess of the statutory limit, holding that excessive indebtedness does not necessarily invalidate contract …

Recent Important Decisions

Michigan Law Review

A collection of recent important court decisions.

The Case Of The S. S. "Lotus", George Wendell Berge

Michigan Law Review

A momentous judgment was rendered by the Permanent Court of International Justice, sitting at the Hague, on September 7, 1927, in the Case of the S.S. Lotus. Interest in the case is especially manifest among students of international and maritime law, as well as others, because it is perhaps the first case to come before the Permanent Court in which the question for decision was a point of general international law. Thorough analysis and comment on the questions involved would fill a good-sized volume. Only a few observations can be made in this article on the merits of the …

Cum Jocis Seriisque, Hon. William Renwick Riddell Lld., Dcl.

Michigan Law Review

The ruthless times of the later Stuarts can never be forgotten by anyone who takes an interest in the history of human freedom and the growth of law.

The extraordinary prosecutions for what was called Treason-not unfrequently Treason ex post facto, only-almost always resulting in a bloody death, were and are an object-lesson which cannot be too strongly impressed upon the minds of all who love freedom of thought and action. The times were cruel, the authorities from the King down disregardful of everything but control of men and money, and the gallant resistance of the few was an …

Book Reviews

Michigan Law Review

A collection of book reviews by multiple authors.

Constitutional Law-Methods Of Testing The Constitutionality Of Rate Status Involving Heavy Penalties

Michigan Law Review

Where a state statute prescribes maximum intrastate railroad rates and also attaches heavy penalties for violations of the statute by a railroad or its agents, and where a railroad thinks the rates are confiscatory and hence unconstitutional, it is faced with an apparent dilemma. Must it either submit to the supposed confiscatory rates or else run the chance of incurring heavy penalties in case the statute is held constitutional? Or, is there another alternative-a painless way of testing the validity of the rates?

Directory

Yearbooks & Class Year Publications

Second edition of the directory of the Law Class of 1928.

"Lightning Cases" Under Workmen's Compensation Acts

Michigan Law Review

A farm hand, sent by his employer to work for a day at a neighbor's farm, was killed by lightning while returning home. At the time of the accident he was driving a team of horses, without a wagon, and was crossing a "high, rocky hill near a wire fence." An award under the Colorado Compensation Act was affirmed by the district court. On appeal from this affirmance, held, by a majority of the court, that "since Oakley's employment required him to be in a position where the lightning struck him, there was a causal relation between employment and …

Telegraph, Telephone And Wireless-Tapping

Michigan Law Review

A recent Federal case, Olmstead v. United States, suggests an interesting problem. Evidence obtained by Federal authorities, who tapped private telephone wires, was admitted in a criminal prosecution. It seems to be the general rule that fraudulently, wrongfully, or illegally procured evidence is admissible, if otherwise admissible. And certainly the courts have required telegraph companies to disclose messages to aid criminal prosecutions. Telegraph operators have been compelled to testify. And even where a state statute forbade disclosure of the message by the company, a subpoena duces tecum has compelled the production of a telegram to aid the courts. Testimony …

Recent Important Decisions

Michigan Law Review

A collection of recent important court decisions.

Book Reviews

Michigan Law Review

A collection of book reviews by multiple authors.

The Influence Of Control In The Determination Of Partnership Liability, Scott Rowley

Michigan Law Review

The influence of control in the determination of partnership liability raises many interesting questions. Particularly within the past decade or slightly more it has been considered by the courts, at times with considerable vigor and with little logic or historical background. A perusal of the texts on partnership discloses very little mention of control as a test of partnership. As a rule it has not earned a place in the indices. The digests are almost equally devoid of place for it. In the few older cases where it is considered at all, it is quite often treated as a poor …

The "Fence"

Michigan Law Review

Whenever crime is discussed, one's attention is invariably called to the person who actually commits crime, such as the bandit, the murderer, the automobile thief, etc.; and whenever the so-called crime wave gains such proportions as to arouse the public to a state of indignation, laws are passed and reforms instituted to make more certain the punishment of such criminals. Very often, however, one of the most vicious enemies of society is forgotten, because he practices his nefarious profession hidden from the eye of the public and under a cloak of respectability. I refer to the one who receives the …

Liability Of Landowner To Pedestrians-Negligence-Independent Contractor

Michigan Law Review

Two recent cases present interesting situations involving the liability of a landowner for injuries to pedestrians occasioned by falling street signs.

Treaties-Scope Of Treaty--Making Power--When Treaties Are Self-Executing

Michigan Law Review

The scope of the treaty-making power, and the considerations that govern in determining when a treaty is self-executing and when it requires subsequent legislation to make its terms effective, received an interesting discussion in a recent case decided in the United States District Court of the District of Maryland.

Congress And The National Administration, John A. Farlie

Michigan Law Review

Under the Constitution of the United States, Congress is vested with legislative powers; and under the classical doctrine of the separation of powers, it is primarily a law-making organ. A recent writer on government has, however, analyzed its functions under seven heads, as follows: as a constituent assembly, a canvassing board and electoral college, an organ of public opinion, a board of directors, an organ of legislation, an executive council, and a high court of justice. In its capacity as board of directors, he also states that "the whole power of direction, supervision and control of administrative affairs is legally …