Law Commons^™

The Institute's Restatement And The Michigan Law, Herbert F. Goodrich

Michigan Law Review

The task which the American Law Institute has undertaken is to make a statement of the common law, in its various branches. The end in view is not codification; indeed the idea is directly opposed to codification. It is hoped to have, when the work is completed, an accurate statement of existing common law, carefully and systematically made, from which local variations and peculiarities have been ironed out. It is hoped, in other words, to restore both accuracy and continuity to the pattern of the common law fabric as it is woven in our judicial mills.

Carriers-Statute Of Limitations For Bringing Suit For Injury To Goods

Michigan Law Review

A recent case decided by the Supreme Court of the United States suggests the query-ls there a federal statute of limitations for bringing suit for injury to goods in an interstate shipment? The answer depends on the interpretation of the Cummins Amendment of March 4, 1915 and the Transportation Act of 1920. The relevant and germane provision of these acts as to the time limit for commencing suit for injury to goods on an interstate carriage is "That it shall be unlawful for any such common carrier to provide by rule, contract, or regulation a shorter period for giving notice …

Constitutional Law-Taxation Of Foreign Corporations

Michigan Law Review

The constitutional limitations on the power of the states to tax foreign corporations present many intricate questions. In general it may be said that a state may tax foreign corporations the same as it may tax domestic corporations, but subject to the limitations found in the commerce clause and the Fourteenth Amendment of the Federal Constitution. The commerce cause takes certain subjects out of the realm of state taxation altogether. The state cannot directly impose a burden of any sort upon interstate commerce. It cannot even lay an excise on the privilege of doing intrastate business if the basis includes …

Constitutional Law-Eminent Domain-Michigan Constitutional Provision

Michigan Law Review

The necessity for the exercise of the power of eminent domain in a given case is a legislative question into which the courts cannot inquire, unless an abuse of legislative power is asserted. This results from the very nature of the power to take property for a public use, which power in itself is inherent in sovereignty. When the legislature determines to take a piece of property it is exercising the power in the normal manner. If the use is public, no further determination is necessary once the legislative decision is made. The real reason for the rule would seem …

Book Reviews

Michigan Law Review

A collection of book reviews by multiple authors.

Equality In International Law, Arnold D. Mcnair

Michigan Law Review

Under this title 1 propose to discuss the present position of the old doctrine of the Equality of States, to consider whether it has been helpful in the development of international society, and what prospect there is of that society finding in international law an instrument wherewith to bring about less inequality between States than at present exists.

Unconstitutional Conditions And State Powers, S. Chesterfield Oppenheim

Michigan Law Review

The genesis and development of the so-called doctrine of unconstitutional conditions represent a phase of the general problem of the division of state and federal powers. Its importance was first recognized in the series of cases dealing with the power of the state over foreign corporations seeking to do business within its borders, for it was in those decisions that the Supreme Court moderated the absolutism of the principle announced in Paul v. Virginia, by the indefinite qualification that the conditions of admission must not be "repugnant to the Constitution or laws of the United States".

Injunction In Labor Disputes--Anti-Trust Laws--"Secondary Boycott".

Michigan Law Review

Since the passing of the Sherman Anti-Trust Act in 1890 there has been an enormous increase in litigation concerning the trade union and its activities. When the Supreme Court in the Danbury Hatters' case8 held that labor organizations were included in the provisions of the Sherman Act, and that the so-called "secondary boycott"' was a violation of the terms of this act, labor felt that it had lost a very effective weapon and at once began to fear that the very existence of the labor union was in danger. Not having much hope of relief from the courts, the forces …

Recent Important Decisions

Michigan Law Review

A collection of recent important court decisions.

A Rational Theory For Joinder Of Causes Of Action And Defences, And For The Use Of Counterclaims, William Wirt Blume

Michigan Law Review

In discussing, first, the joinder of actions it will be convenient to consider three groups or classes of cases:

Class I : Where one plaintiff (or joint plaintiffs) unites in a single proceeding two or more causes of action against one defendant (or joint defendants).

Class 2: "Where two or more plaintiffs, each having a cause of action against the same party (or parties), unite their causes of action in one proceeding.

Class 3: Where one plaintiff (or joint plaintiffs) having several causes of action, each against a different party, unites them in one proceeding.

In considering each group or …

Constitutional Law-Searches And Seisures-Distraction Between Searching A Building And An Automobile Without Warrant

Michigan Law Review

An officer observed the odor of boiling mash and fermentation issuing from the dwelling of the defendant. The officer, without warrant, entered the basement and there found the defendant operating two stills. Considerable whiskey was found stored within the room. Defendant was arrested and convicted. On appeal he contended that the search was unlawful. Held, the search without warrant was unreasonable and in violation of the Fourth Amendment to the Federal Constitution. Schroeder v. United States, 14 F. (2d) 500.

Mortgages-Sale Under Trust Deed Mortgage For Inadequate Price-Effect

Michigan Law Review

The defendant, administrator of the estate of the mortgagee, bought the mortgaged property at the foreclosure sale for one thousand dollars. He bought for himself and not for the estate. He sold the property to a third party for three thousand five hundred dollars. The plaintiff mortgagor brought this suit to compel the defendant to account for the two thousand five hundred dollar difference between the price he paid for the property, and the amount he received for it, allowing a credit for the amount still due on the plaintiff's note-two thousand dollars. Held, where, as in this case, …

Public Utility Valuation For Rate Making Purposes

Michigan Law Review

Ever since Munn v. Illinois (1876) 94 U. S. 113, which first decided that the charges to be made for services rendered by public utilities were to be subject to governmental regulation, the courts have been confronted with a problem, so elusive and indefinite, that over five decades of litigation and wrangling have failed to provide a satisfactory solution. The so called "rule" of Smyth v. Ames (1898) 169 U. S. 466, specifying the elements to be considered in ascertaining the value of public utilities for the purpose of rate-making, has only served to submerge the problem further in its …

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.

Natural Law In American Constitutional Theory, Fowler Vincent Harper

Michigan Law Review

Natural law has had many meanings and diversified interpretations. Whether in the form of jus naturale, the law of nature, the law of reason, lex naturalis, lex aeterna, natural justice, or due process of law; natural law, in the broadest sense, has evolved as the needs of a particular civilization and the endeavors of its legal scholars have directed. It is significant, however, that as a philosophy of law, natural law continues to thrive, although the particular system which one community constructs may be abandoned by succeeding generations. Periods of growth in the law have been frequently accompanied …

Conflict Of Laws-Jurisdiction-Foreign Corporation Not Doing Business In The State

Michigan Law Review

A summons addressed to the defendant corporation was served upon one of its officers at his private residence in Minnesota. The defendant, appearing specially, moved to set aside the service on the ground that it was a foreign corporation not transacting business in the state and that it had empowered no one to accept service of process there in its behalf. The plaintiff contended that the acquisition and ownership of property in Minnesota brought the defendant into the state and under the jurisdiction of its courts. Held, jurisdiction over the corporate property did not give jurisdiction over the corporate …

Sidelights On The Permanent Court Of International Justice, Ake Hammarskjold

Michigan Law Review

In bidding you welcome, in the name of the Permanent Court of International Justice, in this room where that great institution holds its public meetings and pronounces its judgments and opinions, my first word should be, I think, one of regret-regret that a more worthy representative of the Court has not been able to receive you here today. And I daresay that the President of the Court, who would have been the obvious person to welcome you, shares those regrets,-although perhaps from a different point of view. He would, in fact, have liked immensely to be able to meet you …

The Indeterminate Permit For Public Utilities, E. Blythe Stason

Michigan Law Review

Public utilities possess the privilege of furnishing services to the public and most of them use the streets, highways and public places to deliver their services to their customers. Franchises are required to confer the privilege of serving and to authorize the use of public property. Franchises were formerly perpetual; more recently they have been limited to short terms of years; and now we are acquiring still another variety-the indeterminate permit. The last deserves more than a casual acquaintanceship. In fact, it demands close scrutiny. Rightly conceived, it is a device of decided promise. Conceived in unfairness, partiality or ignorance, …

Joinder And Splitting Of Causes Of Action, Charles E. Clark

Michigan Law Review

The pleading rules concerning joinder and splitting of causes of action are complements of each other, though designed to achieve different objectives. The joinder rule is that separate causes cannot be "joined" or pleaded in the same suit unless they fall within one of the classes of permissible joinder specified in the codes. The purpose of the rule is to prevent too wide a field of litigation and too diverse issues in a single suit and thus to avoid a case of undue confusion and complexity. The rule against splitting is that a single cause shall not be "split" or …

Trusts-Trust Estates As Bona Fide Purchasers

Michigan Law Review

The doctrine of bona fide purchase is of ancient origin. It has had many significances and interpretations attached to it. At one time it was explained entirely by the special nature of equity and equitable remedies. Maitland used it to show that equities were rights in personam. That the doctrine is no gauge for the quality of the prior estate was shown by Dean Pound, since legal titles may also be cut off. The doctrine has been criticized as anomalous. Two other writers have taken rather different views of the rule. Mr. J. E. Hogg suggests that the bona …

Crimes-Charge To Jury

Michigan Law Review

Defendant was indicted for murder and manslaughter under sections 15224-5, 3 Compiled Laws of Michigan 1915. The judge gave charges for first and second degree murder and for manslaughter. There was no evidence of murder. A manslaughter verdict was returned. The case was reversed because the murder charge was unsupported by any evidence, and because the defendant was hampered in cross examination. People v. Stahl, 234 Mich. 569, 208 N. W. 685.

Issuance Of Negotiable Instruments As Giving Of Value

Michigan Law Review

Authorities are unanimous that the issuance of negotiable instruments as consideration in the purchase of notes constitutes sufficient value to enable the purchaser to sue as a holder in due course, when the instruments issued have found their way into the hands of a due course holder, or have been paid, before the purchaser acquires knowledge of any defenses. But when, at the time the purchaser is notified of defenses, his notes are still in the possession of the payee, the decisions are not in accord as to his standing. The Wyoming court, in a recent opinion, held a bank …

Situs Of Corporate Shares For Administration Purposes

Michigan Law Review

Questions concerning the situs of corporate shares for tax purposes have been productive of much litigation and a fairly extensive body of authority on the subject has accumulated. Cases dealing with the situs of shares for purposes of administration, on the other hand, arc very rare. This latter fact may be ascribed to the acceptance, in all states except Illinois and Mississippi, of the common law rule that the distribution of personal property shall be governed by the law of the decedent's domicil. But in those two jurisdictions, the legislature has provided that, "All personal property situated in this state …

Arson-Statutory Chance Of Common Law Requisites

Michigan Law Review

At common Jaw, arson was a clearly defined felony, including only certain kinds of burnings. According to Lord Coke, it was the malicious and voluntary burning!' of the house of another by night or by day, 3 INST. 66. There were certain well-understood essentials constituting the crime. The structure must have been a house or an out-house; it must have been the house of another; it must have been inhabited, though not actually occupied, at the time of the burning. The structure must have been a completed one; there must have been an actual burning-at least to the extent of …

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.