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Full-Text Articles in Contracts

Failure Of A "Basic Assumption": The Emerging Standard For Excuse Under Mae Provisions, Nathan Somogie Oct 2009

Failure Of A "Basic Assumption": The Emerging Standard For Excuse Under Mae Provisions, Nathan Somogie

Michigan Law Review

The onset of the current economic crisis has led many strategic and financial acquirers to reconsider the desirability of transactions to which they had previously agreed. Because many of these agreements contain substantial termination fees, buyers have increasingly sought to be excused from their contractual obligations by invoking Material Adverse Effect ("MAE") provisions. Reliance on MAE clauses as a basis for termination has historically been risky due to a lack of clarity in the case law regarding the standard for excuse under such provisions. A recent decision by the Delaware Chancery Court, Hexion v. Huntsman, the third in a …


Contra Proferentem: The Allure Of Ambiguous Boilerplate, Michelle E. Boardman Mar 2006

Contra Proferentem: The Allure Of Ambiguous Boilerplate, Michelle E. Boardman

Michigan Law Review

Bad boilerplate can shake one' s faith in evolution; not only does it not die away, it multiplies. The puzzle is why. Much of boilerplate is ambiguous or incomprehensible. This alienates consumers and is i ncreasingly punished by courts construing the language against the drafter. There must, therefore, be some hidden allure to ambiguous boilerplate. The popular theory is trickery: drafters lure consumers in with promising language that comes to nothing in court. But this trick would require consumers to do three things they do not do-read the language, understand it, and take comfort in it. There is a hidden …


No-Strike Clauses In The Federal Courts, Frank H. Stewart Mar 1961

No-Strike Clauses In The Federal Courts, Frank H. Stewart

Michigan Law Review

One consideration will support several promises. A promisor may extract more than one promise in return for his single undertaking to do - or not to do. It depends upon his bargaining power. His single undertaking may be so valuable that several promises are necessary to induce him to act, or not to act. He is privileged to hold out for the best deal. The law does not examine his motives or reduce his demands. And from this arises the common- law principle that one consideration may support several promises.


Conflict Of Laws-Law Applicable In Federal Courts-Federal Law Applied To Contractual Relations Of Admiralty Lawyer, Robert E. Thorne S.Ed. Mar 1961

Conflict Of Laws-Law Applicable In Federal Courts-Federal Law Applied To Contractual Relations Of Admiralty Lawyer, Robert E. Thorne S.Ed.

Michigan Law Review

Plaintiff attorney was retained by a Spanish seaman to prosecute personal injury claims under the Jones Act and the general maritime law. Defendant shipping company induced the seaman to fire his lawyer and to recover instead under his Spanish employment contract. Plaintiff sued the shipping company in tort for interference with contractual relations. In a federal diversity suit, held, for plaintiff. Federal common law should be applied to determine the validity of the contract and the claim of tortious interference with it. Greenberg v. Panama Transp. Co., 185 F. Supp. 320 (D. Mass. 1960).


Constitutional Law - State Action - Effect Of State Court Interpretation Of A Contract, Dudley H. Chapman Apr 1957

Constitutional Law - State Action - Effect Of State Court Interpretation Of A Contract, Dudley H. Chapman

Michigan Law Review

Mrs. Doris Walker, president of her local union, was discharged by Cutter Laboratories in 1949 because of membership in the Communist Party and falsification of her employment application. The employer acquired knowledge of these facts in 1947, but did not act at that time to avoid charges of persecuting a union officer. The union, pursuant to the collective bargaining agreement, which authorized discharge for "just cause" only, sought and obtained reinstatement from the arbitration board, which action was affirmed by the district court of appeal, but reversed by the California Supreme Court. On certiorari to the United States Supreme Court, …


Jacobs: Law Writers And The Courts, Richard. A. Edwards Nov 1954

Jacobs: Law Writers And The Courts, Richard. A. Edwards

Michigan Law Review

A Review of Law Writers and the Courts. By Clyde E. Jacobs


Courts-Validity Of Contracts Restricting Venue In Actions Under The Federal Employers' Liability Act, John C. Walker S. Ed. Feb 1950

Courts-Validity Of Contracts Restricting Venue In Actions Under The Federal Employers' Liability Act, John C. Walker S. Ed.

Michigan Law Review

Petitioner suffered injuries in the course of his duties as an employee of respondent railroad. Subsequently, respondent advanced money to petitioner and the latter agreed in writing that if his claim could not be settled he would sue only in the county or district where he resided at the time of the injury, or in the county or district where the injury was sustained. This agreement restricted petitioner's choice of venue to either a state or federal court sitting in Michigan. Ignoring the contract, petitioner sued in an Illinois court. Respondent then brought suit in the Michigan courts to enjoin …


Quasi-Contracts-Recission-Liability And Remedies For Innocent Misrepresentation, Bruce L. Moore S.Ed. Apr 1948

Quasi-Contracts-Recission-Liability And Remedies For Innocent Misrepresentation, Bruce L. Moore S.Ed.

Michigan Law Review

A number of courts and most writers recognize the existence of three types of misrepresentation. One type is described as intentional, a second type as negligent, and a third type as innocent. An innocent misrepresentation may be defined as one believed to be true and made without negligence, but false in fact.


Abstracts, Katherine Kempfer Aug 1943

Abstracts, Katherine Kempfer

Michigan Law Review

The abstracts consist merely of summaries of the facts and holdings of recent cases and are distinguished from the notes by the absence of discussion.


Appeal And Error-Appealable Interest Of Bidder At Judicial Sale, Michigan Law Review Apr 1937

Appeal And Error-Appealable Interest Of Bidder At Judicial Sale, Michigan Law Review

Michigan Law Review

The receiver of a bank effected a compromise settlement with the maker of a second mortgage note of $2100, agreeing to sell him the note for $500. Notice of hearing to confirm this sale was published. Prior to the confirmation, appellant, who was the holder of the first mortgage, offered to pay the receiver $600 for the note. The court confirmed the sale to the maker over appellant's objection made at the hearing. Held, that the appellant was not an aggrieved party and had no appealable interest. Dean v. Clapp, (Iowa 1936) 268 N. W. 56.


Equity - Rescission Of Contract Induced By Fraud - Money Judgment As An Alternative To Specific Restitution Nov 1935

Equity - Rescission Of Contract Induced By Fraud - Money Judgment As An Alternative To Specific Restitution

Michigan Law Review

Plaintiff entered into an agreement for the exchange of interests in real estate with one of the defendants. After payment of part of the boot money agreed upon, the plaintiff defaulted and sued to have the agreement rescinded for fraud. The trial court rendered a money judgment for the amount at which the plaintiff's property had been taken on the trade. Held, that defendant's wife, to whom the property had been conveyed, should have been joined, and that the decree should be modified to order a reconveyance to the plaintiff. Bacon v. Fox, 267 Mich. 589, 255 N. …


Pleading-How To Raise The Issue Of Payment Nov 1932

Pleading-How To Raise The Issue Of Payment

Michigan Law Review

On rehearing in an action on contract for money two questions were presented to the court, to wit: first, is an allegation of non-payment essential in order that this complaint might state a cause of action; and second, can the issue of payment be raised by the defendant's general denial? Held, in Hughes v. Wachter an allegation of non-payment is necessary in the complaint, and the defendant may prove payment under a general denial.


Recent Important Decisions, Michigan Law Review Apr 1922

Recent Important Decisions, Michigan Law Review

Michigan Law Review

Admiralty - Workmen's Compensation - Is a Hydroplane a Vessel? - Claimant was employed in the care and management of a hydroplane which was moored in navigable waters. The hydroplane began to drag anchor and drift toward the beach, where it was in danger of being wrecked. Claimant waded into the water and was struck by the propeller. Held, claimant is not entitled to compensation under the Workmen's Compensation Law, since a hydroplane while on navigable waters is a vessel, and therefore the jurisdiction of the admiralty excludes that of the State Industrial Commission. Reinhardt v. Newport Flying Service Corp. …


Note And Comment, Ralph W. Aigler, Edgar N. Durfee, Werner W. Schroeder, Arthur A. Morrow, Harry B. Sutter, Russell H. Neilson Jun 1916

Note And Comment, Ralph W. Aigler, Edgar N. Durfee, Werner W. Schroeder, Arthur A. Morrow, Harry B. Sutter, Russell H. Neilson

Michigan Law Review

Estates in Fee Tail - Quite generally estates in fee tail under the STATUTE DE DONIS were recognized by the states as a part of the common law. Statutory provisions in the way of modification and abolishment of such estates, however, are very common. The nature and scope of the statutory provisions have varied. See the states classified according to the character of the legislation in BREWSTER, CONVEYANCING, § § 142, 143.


Recent Important Decisions May 1914

Recent Important Decisions

Michigan Law Review

A collection of recent important court decisions.


Note And Comment, Gordon W. Stoner, Newton K. Fox, Walle W. Merritt, Albert E. Meder Feb 1912

Note And Comment, Gordon W. Stoner, Newton K. Fox, Walle W. Merritt, Albert E. Meder

Michigan Law Review

The Power of a Court to Compel a jury to Render its Verdict in Accordance with a Peremptory Instruction; The Liability of Municipal Corporations in the Discharge of Public or Governmental Duties and of Private or Corporate Duties; Some views of the Nature and Effect of Corporateness; Mitigation of Damages or Substituted Contract; Limitation of the Amount of a Carrier's Liability


Recent Important Decisions, Michigan Law Review Jan 1912

Recent Important Decisions, Michigan Law Review

Michigan Law Review

Adverse Possession--Hostile Character--Possession Under Executory Contract for Sale; Bills and Notes--Bona Fide Purchase--Effect of Taking After Maturity; Bills and Notes--Bona Fide Purchase--Payment of Forged Check--Recovery of Payment; Bills and Notes--Invalidity of Note--Recovery Upon Original Consideration; Constitutional law--Due Process of Law--Situs of Ship for Purposes of Taxation; contracts--Sufficiency of Typewritten Signature; Copyright--Moving Pictures as Dramatization of Book; Corporations--Stockholder's Meetings--Effect of Withdrawal of Stockholders; Courts--The New Commerce Court--Jurisdiction--First Decision; Covenants Running with the Land--Building Restrictions; Damages--Excessiveness--Personal Injuries--Remittitur; Dead Bodies--Burial Determination of Place; Easements--Merger--Use by Owner of Servient Estate--Adverse Possession; Homicide--Burden of Proof When Insanity is a Defense; Intoxicating Liquors--Illegal Sale--"Dispensing"; Judgment--Collateral Attack--Defective …


Recent Important Decisions, Michigan Law Review May 1911

Recent Important Decisions, Michigan Law Review

Michigan Law Review

Appearance--appeal from Action in Rem as General Appearance; Bankruptcy--Suit by Trustee--Right to Trial by Jury; Bills and Notes--Draft by Agent on Principal--Necessity of Acceptance; Carriers--Merchandise as Baggage--Notice; Constitutional Law--Impairing Obligation of Contract--Clause of Insurance Contract Limiting the Time in Which to Bring Action; Constitutional Law--Invalidating Existing Contracts for Free Transportation; Contracts--Mutual Promises--Independent or Conditional; Courts--Supreme Court--Jurisdiction--Mandamus to Compel Entry of Judgment by Lower Court; Eminent Domain--Damages; Evidence--Confession of an Alleged Accomplice; Evidence--Statutes--Enrolled bill as Evidence; Homestead--Does Joinder of Wife to Release Dower Bar Her Homestead Right?; Insurance--Increase of Hazard; Libel and slander--Absolute Privilege--Judicial Proceedings; Parent and Child--May Parent Authorize Agent …


Note And Comment, John R. Rood, Arthur J. Abbott, Allen Mck. Bond, Howard H. Campbell Feb 1911

Note And Comment, John R. Rood, Arthur J. Abbott, Allen Mck. Bond, Howard H. Campbell

Michigan Law Review

Ignorance and Mistake of Law Caused by Over-Ruled Cases; The Doctrine of Exemplary Damages in Its Application to Corporations; When is a Will Signed "At the End?": Construction of the Code Phrase "Subject of Action"


Recent Important Decisions, Michigal Law Review Feb 1910

Recent Important Decisions, Michigal Law Review

Michigan Law Review

Appeal and Error--Attorney's Interest in Case on Appeal--Contingent Fee; Bankruptcy--discharge--subsequent Action for Fraud; Bills and Notes--Usury No Defense Against a bona Fide Holder--Construction of Negotiable Instruments Statute; Boundaries--Street, Terminus A Quo; Carriers--Hepbern Act--State and Federal Courts--Phrase "Caused by It"; Chattel Mortgages--Payment without Notice of Assignment--Construction of a Mortgage Provision; Constitutional Law--Equal Protection of Laws--Statute Requiring Screens on Cars Operated by Corporations; Constitutional Law--Equal Protection of the Laws--Class Legislation; Contracts--No Recovery Under an Entire Illegal Contract; Contracts--Validity of Contract in Contemplation of Divorce; Courts--Federal Courts--authority of Decision of State Courts--"Telegraph"; Covenants--Breach of that Against Incumbrances; Elections--Ballots--Indication of Choice by Voter; Evidence--Facts …


Recent Important Decisions, Michigan Law Review Mar 1909

Recent Important Decisions, Michigan Law Review

Michigan Law Review

Assignment for Creditors--Validity of Common Law Assignment Under State Statutes--Assignee May Maintain Replevin; Bills and Notes--Fraud--Ability to Read; Bills and Notes--Signature by Agent or Representative--Personal Liability; Boundaries--Meander Line as Boundary in Government Grants--Mistake in Survey; Carriers--Liability as Carriers of Live Stock; Contracts--Antenuptial Agreements--Performance Prevented by Party; Courts--Supreme Court--Review of Decisions of State Courts; Courts--United States Courts Enjoining Proceedings in State Courts--establishment of Railroad Rates by Commission; Criminal Law--Larceny--Fraudulent Use of Legal Process; Criminal Law--Reception of Verdict--Accused's Right to be Present; Dead Bodies--Power of Court to Order Exhumation to Procure Evidence; Evidence--Burden of Proof; Evidence--compelling Accused to Criminate Himself--Waiver of Privilege; …


Recent Important Decisions, Michigan Law Review Apr 1908

Recent Important Decisions, Michigan Law Review

Michigan Law Review

Adoption--Defect in Proceedings--Effect; Bankruptcy--Equitable Rights under Unrecorded Mortgage--Agreement to Insure--Equitable Lien on Insurance Money; Bankruptcy--Insolvent Firm--Individual Estate of Unadjudicated Solvent Partner Not Subject to Administration; Bills and Notes--Liability of Indorser of Non-Negotiable Note; Bills and Notes--Liability of Irregular Indorser; Carriers--Wrongful Treatment of Passengers--Damages for Mental Suffering; Constitutional Law--Imprisonment for Debt--Peonage; Constitutional Law--Interstate Commerce--Shipments Within a State; Corporations--Foreign Corporations--Effect of Withdrawal From State--Validity of Service; Courts--Jurisdiction--Action Under the Laws of Another State; Covenants--Running with the Land; Damages--Destruction of Growing Grass; Evidence--Admissibility of a Deed as an Ancient Document; Evident--Admissions in Pleading; Garnishment--Nonresident Defendant--Jurisdiction; Jury--Right to Trial by Twelve Jurors--Waiver of Jury; …


Recent Important Decisions, Michigan Law Review Nov 1907

Recent Important Decisions, Michigan Law Review

Michigan Law Review

Adoption--Who is a "Child"; Agency--Ratification--Act Must Have Been Done as Agent--Trusts--Pretended Agent as Constructive Trustee; Bankruptcy--Assets--Commissions of Agent on Policies Written Prior to Adjudication; Bankruptcy--Property Held Under conditional Sale--Right to Reclaim; Banks and Banking--Usury Laws--Notes Purchased in Good Raith--Power of Congress to Regulate National Banks; Bills and Notes--Execution in Blank--Statutory Provisions; Constitutional Law--Inheritance Tax--due Process of Law; Contracts--Abandonment--Recovery;


Recent Important Decisions, Michigan Law Review Jun 1907

Recent Important Decisions, Michigan Law Review

Michigan Law Review

Bankruptcy--Insurance Policies--Cash Surrender Value; Bankruptcy--Partnership and Individual Assets; Bills and Notes--Payment by the United States of Pension Checks on Forged Indorsements--Recovery of Payment; Common Carriers--Defective Transfers; Constitutional Law--Commerce in Intoxicating Liquors--License Tax of Traveling Salesman; Constitutional Law--Equal Protection of the Law--State Statute; Constitutional law--Police Power--Flag Legislation; Contracts--Assignments of--Right of Assignee Against Debtor; Corporations--Acquisition of Exemption in Merger; Deeds--Construction and Operation--Reservation and Exception; Deeds--Suit to Set Aside--Duress of Wife--Parties in Pari Delicto; Evidence--Confessions to One Not in Authority--Admissibility; Foreign Corporations--Effect on contracts of Failure to Register--Contracts; Fraud--Independent Investigation; Frauds, Statute of--agreement to Deal in Lands; Husband and Wife--Right to Disposition of …


Recent Important Decisions, Michigan Law Review May 1907

Recent Important Decisions, Michigan Law Review

Michigan Law Review

Bankruptcy--Assigned Claim for Wages--Preference; Bankruptcy--time of Filing Claims; Banks and Banking--Liability of Stockholders--Unregistered Transfer; Banks and Banking--What is a Bank?; Bills and Notes--Indorsement Before Issue--Liabilities; Bills and Notes--usury--Evidence--Burden of Proof; Carriers--Freight Elevators as Carriers of Passengers; Carriers of Passengers--Servants--Communication of Disease; Constitutional Law--Delegation of Power; Constitutional Law--Police Power to Restrict Hours of Labor; Contracts--Mutuality; Courts--Criminal Law--Instructions to Jury; Covenants--Warranty--claims "By, Through or Under" Grantor--Eminent Domain; Criminal Law--Exclusion of Public From Trial; Criminal Law--Trial--conduct of Jury--comments on Defendant's Failure to Testify; Divorce--Custody of Minor Children--Duty to Support Father's Misconduct; Ejectment--When Maintainable--Easements; Estate by Entirety--Effect of Murder of Wife by Husband; Evidence--Wife …


Recent Important Decisions, Michigan Law Review Apr 1907

Recent Important Decisions, Michigan Law Review

Michigan Law Review

Aliens - Right to Take Land by Descent - Loss of State's Right to Escheat; Bailment - Liability of Incidental Bailee; Bankruptcy - Preferences - Franchise Tax; Bankruptcy - Transfers Required to be Recorded - Preferences; Bills and Notes - Bona Fide Purchaser - Notice of Want of Power in Transferrer; Bills and Notes - Unrestricted Negotiability of Bills of Lading; Constitutional Law - Commerce Clause - Statute Relating to Interstate Carriers as Employers; Constitutional Law - Indeterminate Sentence Law; Courts - Rules of Property - Stare Decisis; Criminal Law - Exclusion of Public from Trials; Criminal Law - Impeachment …


Recent Important Decisions, Michigan Law Review Feb 1907

Recent Important Decisions, Michigan Law Review

Michigan Law Review

Admiralty--Liability of Public Corporation for Tort; Bankruptcy--bills and Notes--discharge of Indorser; Bankruptcy--Title to Stock Held by Stockholders; Bills and Notes--Renewal of Void Note--Moral Obligation Not a Good Consideration; Bills and Notes--Renewal of Void Note--Moral Obligation Sufficient Consideration; Carriers--contributory Negligence--Protruding Arms of Passengers; Carriers--Contributory Negligence--Protruding Arms of Passengers; Constitutional law--foreign Corporations--Service of Summons on the Auditor of State--Due Process of Law; Contract to Devise--Parol Evidence to vary Consideration Expressed in a Deed; Corporations--application for Shares--Contracts; Easements--Way of Necessity--Relation of Parties; Equity--Jurisdiction--Bills of Peace; Executors and Administrators--Allowance to Surviving Children--Stepchildren; Garnishment--Proceeds form Sale of Homestead Exempt; Garnishment--Waiver of Defect in Writ; Homestead--conveyance--Joinder …


Recent Important Decisions, Michigan Law Review Nov 1906

Recent Important Decisions, Michigan Law Review

Michigan Law Review

Bankruptcy--"Mining" includes Quarrying; Bankruptcy--Persons Entitled to Oppose Discharge; Banks and Banking--Right of Drawer of Check to Stop its Payment; Bills and Notes--Trustees for Benefit of Creditors as Holders in Due course--Pre-Existing Debt Constitutes Value; Building Contracts--Provisions for Extra Work--Powers of Architect; Common Carriers--Delay Co-Operating with Act of God; Contracts--When a Breach on the Part of One party to a Contract Entitles the Other to Rescind; Criminal Law--Former Jeopardy; Damages--Recovery for Gratuitous Services; Deeds--Estate Granted--Conflict Between the Habendum and the Granting Clauses; Equity--Wills--Precatory Trust; Foreign Corporations--Statute Revoking License on Removal of a Cause to Federal Court; Husband and Wife--Purchase by Wife …


Recent Important Decisions, Michigan Law Review May 1905

Recent Important Decisions, Michigan Law Review

Michigan Law Review

Bailments--Care Required of Agistor--Special Contracts; Bankruptcy--Trading Corporations--Hotels; Common Carriers--discrimination--Exclusive Depot Privileges; Conditional Sales--Street Railway Equipment--Rights of Vendor; Constitutional Law--Class Legislation--Equal Protection of the Amendment of the Federal Constitution and the Massachusetts Declaration of Rights; Constitutional Law--Interference with Civil rights--Power of Congress to Enforce the Fourteenth Amendment; Contempt of Court--Fraudulent Claims; Contract--Assignment; Contract to Indemnify Against negligence--Statutory Prohibition--Public Policy; Corporations--Sale of corporate Property to Directors--Validity; Damages--Remote; Deeds--Duress--Grantor in Possession; Deeds--Restriction Against Building Tenement House--Deeds--Standing Timber--Construction; Equity--Possession of Personal Property; Evidence--Hypothetical Question; Execution--Exemptions--Life Insurance; Fixtures--Mortgage--Distruction of Property; Foreign Corporations--Service of Summons of Officer of; Highway--Rights of Abutting Owner; Husband and Wife--Contracts--Effects of …


Recent Important Decisions, Michigan Law Review Feb 1904

Recent Important Decisions, Michigan Law Review

Michigan Law Review

Administrators--Right to Convey Inchoate Homestead; Agency--Scope of Authority--Sunday Contract; Assignment for the Benefit of Creditors--Action to set Aside; Bankruptcy--Discharge--Debt Created in Fiduciary Relation--Laundry Agent; Bills and Notes--Banks--Payment of Draft to Impost--Liability to Drawer; Chattel Mortgages-Validity--Mortgagor's Possession and Power of Sale in Ordinary Course of Business; Constitutional Law--Due Process at Law--Forfeiture of Lands for Failure to Pay Taxes; Constitutional Law--Local Option Law--Use of Liquors in Religious Worship--Discrimination; Contract for the Benefit of Third Persons--Enforcement by Beneficiary--Assignment; Corporations--Oral Subscription to Stock--Statute of Frauds; Corporations--Promissory Notes--Proof of Execution; Courts--Jurisdiction of State Court to Enjoin a Receiver Appointed by Federal Court; Damages--Automobiles--Frightening Horses--Excessive Speed; …