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Articles 1 - 16 of 16

Full-Text Articles in Law

Negligence - Damages - Mental Anguish From Witnessing Peril Of Third Party, Mark Shaevsky Dec 1957

Negligence - Damages - Mental Anguish From Witnessing Peril Of Third Party, Mark Shaevsky

Michigan Law Review

Plaintiffs (husband, wife, and three children) incurred physical injuries and a fourth child was burned to death in an automobile collision with the defendant's vehicle. Plaintiffs claimed compensation for mental anguish sustained from witnessing the death of the child. Defendant's motion to strike the allegations of mental suffering, held, granted. Defendant owes no legal duty to protect plaintiffs from mental suffering caused by viewing another in peril. Lessard v. Tarca, (Conn. Super. 1957) 133 A. (2d) 625.


Restitution - Equitable Remedies - Imposition Of Equitable Lien To Carry Out Provisions Of Will, David C. Berg Dec 1957

Restitution - Equitable Remedies - Imposition Of Equitable Lien To Carry Out Provisions Of Will, David C. Berg

Michigan Law Review

H and W each conveyed their separate farms to themselves as joint tenants by means of a third-party conduit. The deeds were not recorded, and H and W continued to regard their respective farms as belonging to themselves individually. In 1951, W, faced with imminent death, executed a will calling for the payment of certain bequests out of her farm or its proceeds. H agreed to act as executor and promised that the bequests would be paid. H had recorded the joint tenancy deeds before W died, but had not paid the bequests when he died intestate two years …


Limitations Of Action - Applicable Statute - Third-Party Injury Provision Agreed To By Contractor Subject To Contract Limitation Only, Walter L. Adams Dec 1957

Limitations Of Action - Applicable Statute - Third-Party Injury Provision Agreed To By Contractor Subject To Contract Limitation Only, Walter L. Adams

Michigan Law Review

More than two years following an accident in which they sustained personal injuries when their car fell into defendant's excavation, plaintiffs filed a diversity action in a federal court stating inter alia a cause of action based upon a third-party beneficiary contract entered into by defendant street contractor and the City of Philadelphia for which he was working. The contract provided in essence that defendant alone would be liable for damage sustained by any third party "irrespective of whether or not such injuries ... be due to negligence or the inherent nature of the work." The district court dismissed the …


Constitutional Law - Right To A Trial By Jury-Power Of Trial Court To Use Additur, Robert W. Steele S.Ed. Nov 1957

Constitutional Law - Right To A Trial By Jury-Power Of Trial Court To Use Additur, Robert W. Steele S.Ed.

Michigan Law Review

The plaintiff brought suit against two defendants, claiming $56,000 for personal injuries suffered in an accident. Upon return of a jury verdict for the plaintiff in the amount of $3,000, the plaintiff moved for a new trial on the issue of damages. The trial court denied the motion on condition that defendants consent to the entry of a judgment of $9,830.92. Both defendants consented. Plaintiff appealed on the ground that the use of an additur constituted an infringement of his constitutional guarantee of a jury trial. Held/em>, affirmed. Conditioning the denial of a new trial upon the defendant's consent …


Criminal Law - Due Process - Public Policy As Valid Grounds For Denying Recovery Of Proceeds Of Illegal Act, John Morrow S.Ed. Nov 1957

Criminal Law - Due Process - Public Policy As Valid Grounds For Denying Recovery Of Proceeds Of Illegal Act, John Morrow S.Ed.

Michigan Law Review

Plaintiff collected a $10 fee from a number of persons for the privilege of attending a farm outing and photographing female models, some of whom posed in the nude. The sheriff arrested all concerned. Plaintiff pleaded guilty to a charge of outraging public decency and was fined $50. The others were found guilty of disorderly conduct. Plaintiff brought a trover action against the sheriff who had kept the money ($149) which the plaintiff had collected, but the trial court dismissed the action. On appeal to the New York Court of Appeals, held, affirmed, one judge dissenting. Plaintiff could not …


Civil Procedure - Judgments - Effect Of Prior "Compromise" Judgment As Collateral Estoppel, Peter H. Hay S.Ed. Nov 1957

Civil Procedure - Judgments - Effect Of Prior "Compromise" Judgment As Collateral Estoppel, Peter H. Hay S.Ed.

Michigan Law Review

In a negligence action for injuries sustained in an automobile accident, one of three successful plaintiffs was granted a new trial because damages awarded her were inadequate. In the new trial the issue of negligence was relitigated over plaintiff's objection that the question of liability was res judicata. The jury found for the defendant and plaintiff appealed. Held, affirmed, one justice dissenting. Although the judgment in favor of the other two plaintiffs in the prior action establishing defendant's liability has become final, this prior judgment is not res judicata. Since the judgment was entered pursuant to a verdict which …


The Union Of Law And Equity, Charles W. Joiner, Ray A. Geddes Jun 1957

The Union Of Law And Equity, Charles W. Joiner, Ray A. Geddes

Michigan Law Review

This paper was prepared for the guidance of a Committee on Michigan Procedural Revision jointly created by the Michigan Legislature, the Supreme Court of Michigan, and the Michigan State Bar to recommend revision of Michigan statutes and rules. Toe need for the joinder of law and equity procedure was thought to be so fundamental that this paper was prepared as a basic study for the committee. In it an attempt is made to bring to the attention of the Michigan lawyers, judges, and legislators an analysis of the Michigan Constitution, statutes, and cases and the experience of other states that …


Federal Jurisdiction - Securities And Exchange Commission - Application Of Rule X - 10b-5 To Transactions Involving Non-Securities, Richard Singer May 1957

Federal Jurisdiction - Securities And Exchange Commission - Application Of Rule X - 10b-5 To Transactions Involving Non-Securities, Richard Singer

Michigan Law Review

Plaintiff brought an action for damages and the cancellation of certain instruments under section 10 (b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and rule X-10B-5 promulgated thereunder by the Securities and Exchange Commission. She proved a series of interrelated acts which took place over a period of months by which the defendants fraudulently deprived her of both securities and other property. The defendants objected to the jurisdiction of the district court on the ground that rule X-10B-5 was not applicable to transactions involving non-securities. The district court retained jurisdiction on the theory that all of the acts complained of …


Admiralty - Jones Act - Applicability To Dredge Employees As Seaman, Ross Kipka May 1957

Admiralty - Jones Act - Applicability To Dredge Employees As Seaman, Ross Kipka

Michigan Law Review

Petitioner, a laborer, was employed by respondent on a canal digging project. His duties were those of a handyman on respondent's dredge, which was temporarily attached to shore, and his work consisted of carrying supplies from shore to the dredge, cleaning the dredge, and doing errands ashore. The employee was not a member of a maritime union, but was a member of a laborers' union. He lived at home, worked on an eight hour shift, and brought his meals to his place of employment. He was not subject to the supervision of the officer of the dredge but received his …


Corporations - Appraisal Statutes - Elements In Valuation Of Corporate Stock, John C. Baity Mar 1957

Corporations - Appraisal Statutes - Elements In Valuation Of Corporate Stock, John C. Baity

Michigan Law Review

The purpose of this comment is to consider the elements of stock valuation generally applicable under the statutory appraisal remedies, and to analyze in some detail the interpretation of such a statute in one jurisdiction-Delaware.


Admirality - Jurisdiction - Action For Wrongful Death On The High Seas Limited To Admiralty, Robert Knauss S.Ed. Mar 1957

Admirality - Jurisdiction - Action For Wrongful Death On The High Seas Limited To Admiralty, Robert Knauss S.Ed.

Michigan Law Review

Plaintiff as widow and administratrix seeks damages from the United States for the alleged wrongful death of her husband on the high seas. Action was brought at law under the Federal Tort Claims Act. Government's motion to dismiss was sustained. There is no common law cause of action for wrongful death on the high seas. The federal Death on the High Seas Act gives a remedy to the representative only "in Admiralty," and thus jurisdiction is lacking at law in the district court. Kunkel v. United States, (S.D. Cal. 1956) 140 F. Supp. 591.


Restitution - Constructive Trust Relief For Breach Of Oral Contract To Create Trust In Land, Edward A. Manuel S.Ed. Feb 1957

Restitution - Constructive Trust Relief For Breach Of Oral Contract To Create Trust In Land, Edward A. Manuel S.Ed.

Michigan Law Review

Plaintiff mining company sued to impose a constructive trust on mineral interests purchased by the defendant employee in breach of his oral agreement with the company. The agreement included a promise to hold any property so acquired in trust for the employer at his election. Ruling that this agreement was unenforceable under the Oklahoma statute of frauds, the trial court relied on the defendant's status as an ordinary employee without duties relating to the acquisition of mineral interests or access to confidential information, and gave judgment for the defendant. On appeal, held, affirmed. Without proof of positive fraud or …


Compulsory Joinder Of Parties In Civil Actions, John W. Reed Feb 1957

Compulsory Joinder Of Parties In Civil Actions, John W. Reed

Michigan Law Review

Compulsory joinder cases involving interests in land display one peculiar and important characteristic: there is almost never any need in the state courts to wrestle with the question of whether a person is indispensable as distinguished from necessary. One hastens to add that this attribute of land cases appears to have gone largely unnoticed, but it exists none the less. It arises out of the fact that in a suit involving real property it is never impossible for the court to obtain jurisdiction over all persons interested therein to an extent which will enable the court to adjudicate controversies over …


Torts - Unauthorized Autopsy - Non-Survival Of Action, Lee H. Snyder Feb 1957

Torts - Unauthorized Autopsy - Non-Survival Of Action, Lee H. Snyder

Michigan Law Review

Plaintiff's husband was struck and killed by a motorbus owned and operated by defendant municipality. The body was removed to a hospital maintained by defendant. Subsequently, at the request and direction of a physician employed by defendant, an autopsy was performed, apparently to determine whether the deceased had been drinking. During the examination certain organs were removed and destroyed. Plaintiff brought an action for damages on the ground that the mutilation was done without her consent and in violation of her legal right to the possession of the body. Plaintiff died while the action was pending, and her administrator continued …


Admiralty - Jurisdiction - Quasi -Contractual Remedy, Ross Kipka S.Ed. Jan 1957

Admiralty - Jurisdiction - Quasi -Contractual Remedy, Ross Kipka S.Ed.

Michigan Law Review

Petitioners paid money to respondent for prospective passage to Europe on his passenger vessel held out as a common carrier. When respondent failed to make the voyage or return the passage money, petitioners sued in admiralty for breach of contract. The libel was in the nature of indebitatus assumpsit for moneys had and received and wrongfully withheld by respondent. The district court held this an action based upon the breach of a maritime contract and therefore within the admiralty jurisdiction. The court of appeals reversed, on the ground that the action was in the nature of the common law indebitatus …


Labor Law - Federal Pre-Emption - An Inroad Through The Violence Doctrine, Richard E. Day Jan 1957

Labor Law - Federal Pre-Emption - An Inroad Through The Violence Doctrine, Richard E. Day

Michigan Law Review

The Wisconsin Supreme Court affirmed the circuit court's enforcement of an order obtained by the Kohler Company from the Wisconsin Employment Relations Board enjoining the appellant union, as a violation of the "Wisconsin Employment Peace Act, from further engaging in mass picketing, coercion, and other activities, which were also unfair labor practices under the amended National Labor Relations Act, to which the Kohler Company was subject. On appeal to the United States Supreme Court, held, affirmed, three justices dissenting. While, as a general matter, a state may not, in furtherance of its public policy, enjoin conduct which has been …