Law Commons^™

Mechanics' Liens - Property Subject To Liens - Easements

Michigan Law Review

The Ford Motor Company held a right of way across certain railroad tracks from a street to its plant, and contracted with B to build an underpass and grade separation from the street and under the tracks. Before full performance, the Ford Company discharged B and completed the work itself. Numerous materialmen claimed mechanics' liens for supplies furnished B. Held, the right of passage was an easement appurtenant to the Ford plant and not lienable as such, because severance from the dominant estate would extinguish the easement. A lien on the underpass as a building on the land of …

Infancy-Effect Of Workmen's Compensation Act On Privilege To Disaffirm

Michigan Law Review

Plaintiff's decedent, a minor illegally employed, was killed while in the course of employment. As administrator, plaintiff sought to repudiate the award under the Compensation Act. He proceeded with an action at law and obtained a judgment of $20,000. On writ of error, held, judgment reversed without a new trial; the minor, not having elected otherwise, was bound by the terms of the Workmen's Compensation Act. Thomas v. Morton Salt Co., 253 Mich. 613, 235 N.W. 846 (1931).

Torts-Automobiles-Statute Limiting Liability To Gratuitous Passengers

Michigan Law Review

In her declaration, plaintiff alleged that while she was riding as a gratuitous passenger in defendant's automobile, she was injured as a consequence of defendant's gross negligence in permitting a person known by him to be incompetent to drive the automobile; that by reason of the incompetence of the driver, the car went into a ditch, causing the injury complained of. The defendant moved to dismiss the declaration on the ground that it did not charge actionable gross negligence and that the defendant was not liable for mere negligence under a Michigan statute. Held, that the declaration should be …

Wills-Future Estates-Descendibility Of Contingent Remainders

Michigan Law Review

A testator left property in trust for his wife and son, or the survivor of them, for life. There followed a remainder over the lineal heirs of the son, but should the son die without issue the property was to be divided among specifically named devisees. The son died unmarried and without issue. Representatives of three deceased remaindermen who had predeceased the son claimed shares in the estate. Held, that the shares of the contingent remaindermen had lapsed. In re Coots's Estate (Mich. 1931) 234 N.W. 141.

Adverse Possession-Possession By Church Corporation

Michigan Law Review

This was an action in ejectment. The defendant, a church corporation, claimed title to the land in question, which adjoined the church, by virtue of adverse possession. Held, that the rule that a corporation can show possession only by proving formal corporate acts is inapplicable to a church organization, members of which constitute the corporation, and that the acts of the members of the church in using this property to park cars on, for social purposes, etc., were, in effect, corporate acts of the church so as to vest title in that organization. Davy v. Trustees of Protestant Episcopal …

Trusts-Resulting-Conveyance To Voluntary Grantee To Defraud Creditors

Michigan Law Review

The plaintiff and the defendant, husband and wife, were tenants by the entireties in certain real estate. Fearing an action by a supposed creditor against the husband, they conveyed without consideration to a third person who subsequently conveyed to the wife. This was done on the advice of counsel. There was an oral understanding between the plaintiff and the defendant at the time of this conveyance that the husband's interest should be reconveyed in the same roundabout manner after any danger of suit had passed. Due to wise investments on the part of the wife this property became very valuable. …

Future Interests - Life Interest With Added Power To Dispose Of Fee As Fee Sample

Michigan Law Review

Given a devise of a life estate plus an absolute power to dispose of the fee, but with a remainder over, on the death of the life tenant, of what then remains undisposed of, does the first taker have a fee or merely a life estate coupled with a power of disposal? In the past, Michigan has been numbered with a small minority of states giving the first taker a fee in this situation, but in the recent case of Quarton v. Barton a contrary result was reached.

Sales-Rescission For Breach Of Warranty-Use Or Payment After Knowledge Of Defects

Michigan Law Review

In February, plaintiff sold defendant a cement mixer with, as defendant claimed, an express warranty. It did not work properly, and attempts were made by both parties to put it in order. Plaintiff refused to aid further, but defendant claimed that plaintiff earnestly requested him to make a further trial. In June, defendant made a payment. In September, he gave up attempts to make the machine work and notified plaintiff to take it back. Plaintiff sued for the balance of the price. Held, by defendant's version of the facts he had at one time a right to rescind. It …

Adverse Possession-Grantor Against Grantee-Requirement Of Notice

Michigan Law Review

Plaintiff owning a fee deeded it to his wife in 1893. The wife died in 1911, and plaintiff continued lo reside on the land ever since. Shortly after the wife's death plaintiff told defendants, his daughters, that he and his wife had held the land by" entirety, and that he was, therefore, the sole owner by right of survivorship. Defendants never learned of the deed to the wife until the instigation of this suit. Plaintiff claimed that he had reacquired ownership by adverse possession, and brought a bill to cancel the deed to his wife and remove the cloud from …

Corporations-Tax Upon Extension Or Renewal Of Corporate Term

Michigan Law Review

Plaintiff, its period of corporate existence expiring in May, 1929, proceeded to extend its life, as provided by law, for another 30 years. The general corporation statute required a corporation, upon filing its annual report, to pay a privilege fee for exercising its franchises. It provided, however, that if the corporation was organized in the instant year between January 1 and August 31, it need pay only a filing fee and a privilege fee of ten dollars. By amendment in 1929, it was declared that a corporation seeking extension of corporate existence "should be regarded as a new corporation for …

Bills And Notes-Payee As Holder In Due Course

Michigan Law Review

P executed a note and securing mortgage leaving a blank for the name of the payee and mortgagee. A, P's agent, in excess of his authority, filled in the blanks with D's name and with D's knowledge. D in good faith paid full value. Held, under sec. 6055,. Mich. Comp. Laws (1915) D has no claim against P, for he is not a holder in due course. Bronson v. Stetson, 252 Mich. 6, 232 N.W. 741.

Equity Jurisdiction As Affected By Adequacy Of The Remedy At Law

Michigan Law Review

A Michigan case, decided December 3, 1929, presents an interesting problem concerning the status of equity jurisdiction when the relief at law is adjudged adequate. Plaintiff and defendant owned adjoining lots, and disagreed as to the location of the true boundary line between them. Plaintiff was in possession of the disputed strip. Defendant started an ejectment suit, whereupon plaintiff brought a bill in equity to enjoin defendant's suit at law and to have title decreed to be in himself. Defendant answered denying that there was any equity in the bill, and moved to dismiss. Later counsel agreed that the entire …

The Initiation Of Criminal Prosecutions By Indictment Or Information, Raymond Moley

Michigan Law Review

One of the most pronounced changes in criminal procedure proposed by the new criminal code prepared under the direction of and approved by the American Law Institute is that which proposes "all offenses heretofore required to be prosecuted by indictment may be prosecuted either by indictment or information.'' This would radically affect the present criminal procedure of one-half of the states. In twenty-four states prosecution of practically all cases may now be by information. The reform thus officially proposed by the Institute has been widely recommended by commissions and committees interested in the reform of criminal procedure. In many of …

Injunction-Against Tort-Balance Of Convenience

Michigan Law Review

The defendant railroad company held a lease for a right of way to and from the complainant's flour mill. In violation of their lease, and over the protest of the plaintiff, a side track was run from the branch track of the complainant to the track of the Litchfield Dairy Association and later extended to the plant of the defendant association, a competitor of the complainant. Held, the complainant was entitled to a decree restraining the defendants from moving cars for the defendant association over the complainant's side track. Affirmed. Stock and Sons v. Litchfield Coop. Shipper's Ass'n. et …

Injunction-Breach Of Negative Covenant-Adequate Remedy At Law

Michigan Law Review

The defendant, an owner of a gasoline station, entered into a contract with the plaintiff whereby he agreed to buy "all motor fuels handled, sold, or required" at his station from the plaintiff. He further agreed not to "sell, or allow to be sold on his premises * * * any other brands of motor fuel than those of the seller [plaintiff]." Before the expiration of the contract the defendant notified the plaintiff that he would no longer be bound by the contract. The lower court dismissed a bill praying for an injunction restraining the defendant from violating the negative …

Contracts-Breach Of Implied Warranty That Construction Be Usable For Purpose Intended

Michigan Law Review

Plaintiff and defendant entered into a contract by the terms of which defendant was to assign to plaintiff an equity in a land contract to purchase a lot. The plaintiff was to complete the payments and sell to the defendant on a land contract this same lot with a house and garage to be erected by the plaintiff, an experienced builder, according to plans and specifications to be drawn by the latter. The defendant was to be given credit for the amount he had previously paid on the lot, and the price was further reduced by the defendant doing the …

Contracts-Rescission For Substantial Breach-Lien For Improvements Given Vendee

Michigan Law Review

For statement of facts see preceding note in this issue, Younger v. Caroselli, 251 Mich. 533, 232 N.W. 378.

According to the majority view in the United States, a builder, whose substantial breach of contract (the instant case can hardly be considered one of substantial performance) is merely negligent and in good faith, can recover the value of his labor and materials less the damage caused the promisee.

Parent And Child-Education As A Necessary

Michigan Law Review

Defendant owned a farm where he and his family lived. He owned a car, paid his bills, and lived as comfortably as the average farmer. He provided piano lessons for his twelve-year old daughter, who showed an aptitude for music and was the pianist, of the neighborhood. For tuning a piano at the request of defendant's wife and daughter, plaintiff recovered a judgment of five dollars, based on a verdict that tuning the piano was a necessary for which defendant was liable. Held, that the amount being easily within the means of the father and the service necessary if …

Some Inadequacies In The Law Of Arrest, John Barker Waite

Michigan Law Review

Suppose that a farmer whose orchard borders the highway happens on the spot in time to see a truck, with the license tag of a foreign state, conveniently parked while the driver loads it with apples which he picks from the farmer's trees. What can the farmer-owner do in respect to the situation?

Contracts-Right Of A Third Party Beneficiary

Michigan Law Review

Husband and wife agreed with each other to make mutual wills which would leave one-third of the estate of the survivor in equal portions to seven relatives, four of whom were the mother and three sisters of the husband and the remaining three, a niece and two sisters of the wife. After the husband's death the wife made another will, revoking the former one and providing for a different distribution of her property. After her death the mother and three sisters of the deceased husband filed a bill for the specific performance of the contract to make mutual wills. Held …

Quasi-Contracts--Improvements On Land Of Another By Mistake

Michigan Law Review

Plaintiffs filed a bill in chancery seeking compensation for a house built on the defendants' lot due to an error on the part of the plaintiffs. The lower court granted a decree offering the defendants the election of taking the improvements at a fair value found by the court or of releasing the lot to the plaintiffs on the plaintiffs' paying its fair value. On appeal, held, this relief was proper. Hardy et al. v. Burroughs et al. (Mich. 1930) 232 N.W. 200.