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Constructive Trusts - Land Purchased By Agent In Violation Of Fiduciary Obligation To Principal - Statute Of Frauds Dec 1932

Constructive Trusts - Land Purchased By Agent In Violation Of Fiduciary Obligation To Principal - Statute Of Frauds

Michigan Law Review

Plaintiffs employed defendant to negotiate for the purchase of a certain tract of land, defendant to receive a 5% commission if the purchase was made. Defendant contracted with the owner for the purchase of the land in his own name and made the down payment with his own funds. Plaintiffs demanded an assignment of the contract and on defendant's refusal brought suit to compel a conveyance of the property by defendant as trustee. Held, that a constructive trust may be created where an agent purchases with his own money property which he is employed to purchase for his principal, …


Torts - Liability Of Manufacturer To Remote Vendee Dec 1932

Torts - Liability Of Manufacturer To Remote Vendee

Michigan Law Review

In the now famous case of MacPherson v. Buick Motor Company the New York Court of Appeals was faced with the question of the liability of a motor manufacturer to a plaintiff who had purchased a car from a retailer and who had been injured at the time of the coIIapse of a defective wheel. In deciding that such a manufacturer owed a duty to use reasonable care in inspection of the wheels which were to be placed under the assembled car, Justice Cardozo said: "We hold, then, that the principle of Thomas v. Winchester is not limited to poisons, …


Torts - Negligence -The Duty Element Dec 1932

Torts - Negligence -The Duty Element

Michigan Law Review

Plaintiff was the driver of a large motor coach which had skidded on an icy road and knocked down a telephone post, causing a wire, strung thereon, to sag across the road. Perceiving that defendant's approaching truck would run into the wire, plaintiff signalled defendant to stop, but defendant did not stop until his truck had struck the wire, pulling the pole over so that it hit the plaintiff. Held, one judge dissenting, that the question of defendant's negligence was for the jury. Kennedy v. Scott Transportation Co., (C. C. A. 2d, 1932) 60 F. (2d) 717.


Trial Practice-Waiver Of General Verdict And Agreement To Submission On Special Interrogatories Nov 1932

Trial Practice-Waiver Of General Verdict And Agreement To Submission On Special Interrogatories

Michigan Law Review

By agreement of the parties, this case was submitted to the jury on six special interrogatories, a general verdict being waived, and judgment was rendered on the answers so given. The appellate court, in reviewing the case, held, in Central Loan and Investment Co. v. Loiseau, that the legal effect of this agreement was a waiver of trial by jury, except for the specific questions submitted, and that findings of fact should have been made by the judge on all issues other than those specifically found by the jury. These findings were held necessary to support a judgment, …


Agency- Liability Of Principal For Torts Of Agent-Apparent Authority Jun 1932

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 …


Corporations - New Types Of Securities Under Blue Sky Legislation May 1932

Corporations - New Types Of Securities Under Blue Sky Legislation

Michigan Law Review

The plaintiff company, in order to secure capital to finance the purchase and construction of retail gasoline stations and bulk plants in Wisconsin, proposed to sell coupon books for the sum of $35 per book. Purchases made with these coupons entitled the holder of the book to certain credits which, upon accumulation, were to be redistributed to him in cash upon presentation of coupons in the amount of 25 cents or more. Along with each coupon book there was to be issued to each purchaser a so-called good-will contract which, after stating its purpose as being to secure the good …


Taxation-Power To Determine Income Tax Rate Of Husband On Basis Of Combined Income Of Husband And Wife Mar 1932

Taxation-Power To Determine Income Tax Rate Of Husband On Basis Of Combined Income Of Husband And Wife

Michigan Law Review

The plaintiff and his wife had separate incomes and estates. The Wisconsin income tax law provided that married persons living together might make separate returns, but that the tax rate should be that rate which would apply had their incomes been combined in a single return. Wis Stat., 1927, c. 71.05 (2) (d), c. 71.09(4) (c). Income tax rates, under the Wisconsin law, are graduated according to the size of the income. Married women are given equal property and contract rights with men under the Wisconsin statutes. The plaintiff, protesting against payment of a higher rate than that prescribed for …


Wills -Validity Of Contracts To Suppress Mar 1932

Wills -Validity Of Contracts To Suppress

Michigan Law Review

Certain children entered into a contract during the lifetime of their parents, by the terms of which it was agreed that if the will of either parent should favor some of the children above others, the favored children would waive their rights under the will and share equally in the real and personal estate of the parents. The will of the father left the whole estate to the mother. Her will omitted any gift to one of the children, and this suit was brought by an assignee of that child to obtain specific performance of the agreement. Held, that …


Wills-Status Of Illegitimates Under Bequest To Children Jan 1932

Wills-Status Of Illegitimates Under Bequest To Children

Michigan Law Review

The testator devised $5,000 to "the children of my deceased sister B, to be divided equally among those living at my death, including the child or children of a deceased child by right of representation." B had one child who predeceased the testator, leaving two illegitimate children, the complainants. Held, the illegitimates can take, providing they can show that the testator knew that they were the only surviving offspring, at the time the will was made. In re Kauffer's will, (Wis. 1931) 234 N.W. 502.