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Full-Text Articles in Securities Law

The Commodification Of Cryptocurrency, Neil Tiwari Jan 2018

The Commodification Of Cryptocurrency, Neil Tiwari

Michigan Law Review

Cryptocurrencies are digital tokens built on blockchain technology. This allows for a product that is fully decentralized, with no need for a third-party intermediary like a government or financial institution. Cryptocurrency creators use initial coin offerings (ICOs) to raise capital to build their tokens. Cryptocurrency ICOs are problematic because they do not fit neatly within either of two traditional categories—securities or commodities. Each of these categories has their own regulatory agency: the SEC for securities and the CFTC for commodities. At first blush, ICOs seem to be a sale of securities subject to regulation by the SEC, but this is …


Gatekeeper Failures: Why Important, What To Do, Merritt B. Fox Apr 2008

Gatekeeper Failures: Why Important, What To Do, Merritt B. Fox

Michigan Law Review

The United States was hit by a wave of corporate scandals that crested between late 2001 and the end of 2002. Some were traditional scandals involving insiders looting company assets - the most prominent being Tyco, HealthSouth, and Adelphia. But most were what might be called "financial scandals": attempts by an issuer to maximize the market price of its securities by creating misimpressions as to what its future cash flows were likely to be. Enron and WorldCom were the most spectacular examples of these financial scandals. In scores of additional cases, the companies involved and their executives were sued by …


Standing Up To Wall Street (And Congress), Richard W. Painter May 2003

Standing Up To Wall Street (And Congress), Richard W. Painter

Michigan Law Review

In 1992, Arthur Levitt co-chaired a fundraising dinner for William Clinton. The dinner raised $750,000 (p. 7). Clinton was elected President, and Levitt got the job he wanted: Chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission. Levitt, a former Chairman of the American Stock Exchange and a connected Democrat, was well qualified for the job. His, however, became a pyrrhic victory when accountants, issuers, broker-dealers, and other special interests used their own political connections to frustrate just about everything he sought to do. Levitt tells the story of his struggle against these well-funded interests in Take on the Street. One of …


The Efficient Norm For Corporate Law: A Neotraditional Interpretation Of Fiduciary Duty, Thomas A. Smith Jan 1999

The Efficient Norm For Corporate Law: A Neotraditional Interpretation Of Fiduciary Duty, Thomas A. Smith

Michigan Law Review

To economically oriented corporate law professors, distinguishing between directors' fiduciary duty to shareholders and a duty to the corporation1 itself smacks of reification - treating the fictional corporate entity as if it were a real thing. Now the orthodox view among corporate law scholars is that the corporate fiduciary duty is a norm that requires firm managers to "maximize shareholder value." Giving the corporation itself any serious role in the analysis of fiduciary duty, the thinking goes, obscures scientific insight with bad legal metaphysics. Some recent scholarship and legislation, such as constituency statutes, have challenged this "shareholder primacy" view. Contestants …


A Banker's Adventures In Brokerland: Looking Through Glass-Steagall At Discount Brokerage Services, Michigan Law Review May 1983

A Banker's Adventures In Brokerland: Looking Through Glass-Steagall At Discount Brokerage Services, Michigan Law Review

Michigan Law Review

Several banks have recently entered or announced their intention to enter the discount brokerage business, and the Federal Reserve Board is considering a rule listing discount brokerage as an acceptable bank holding company activity. The securities industry has contested this entry, asserting that the Glass-Steagall Act requires separation between investment and commercial banking. Though the Act does mandate some division between the two lines of business, this Note argues that bank discount brokerage services do not violate the Act. Part I examines the competing "accommodation" and "agency" interpretations of the relevant statutory sections, concluding that the agency interpretation, which permits …


Actions On Commercial Paper: Holder's Procedural Advantages Under Article Three, Stanley V. Kinyon Jan 1967

Actions On Commercial Paper: Holder's Procedural Advantages Under Article Three, Stanley V. Kinyon

Michigan Law Review

The discussion will also be concerned primarily with the usual action "on the instrument": an action by the holder to enforce payment by a person who has signed it as maker, acceptor, certifier, drawer, indorser, or guarantor and has thus become "liable on" it. These instruments, of course, may be involved in other types of actions, such as: an action for conversion of the instrument (section 3-419); an action to recover damages for breach of the warranties of a collector or transferor (sections 3-417 and 4-207); an action to compel indorsement (section 3-201); an action to enjoin payment (section 5-114(2)(b)); …


The Expanding Jurisdiction Of The Securities And Exchange Commission: Variable Annuities And Bank Collective Investment Funds, John W. Erickson Jun 1964

The Expanding Jurisdiction Of The Securities And Exchange Commission: Variable Annuities And Bank Collective Investment Funds, John W. Erickson

Michigan Law Review

The Securities and Exchange Commission is presently attempting to assert jurisdiction over certain aspects of two industries traditionally exempt from federal securities regulation-insurance and banking. The SEC claims that two recently developed investment vehicles-variable annuities in the insurance field and pooled funds of managing agency accounts in the banking field-are virtually the same as mutual funds, which are subject to SEC regulation under the Investment Company Act of 1940. (A mutual fund is essentially a fund (usually in corporate form), the participants' contributions to which are collectively invested in a portfolio of securities, each participation representing a pro rata interest …


Bonds - Income Bonds - Rights Of Bondholders And Deductibility Of Interest For Federal Income Tax Purposes, Guy B. Maxfield S.Ed., Michael M. Lyons S.Ed. Jun 1958

Bonds - Income Bonds - Rights Of Bondholders And Deductibility Of Interest For Federal Income Tax Purposes, Guy B. Maxfield S.Ed., Michael M. Lyons S.Ed.

Michigan Law Review

An income bond is an obligation of a corporation on which interest is payable only out of earnings, as distinguished from the ordinary corporate bond on which interest is a fixed charge regardless of earnings. Long regarded as a hybrid security which is to be issued only as a last resort, income bonds have grown surprisingly in popularity over the past two decades. It is the purpose of this comment to consider the historical background of income bonds, to make a comparative analysis of the bond indentures as they affect investors' rights, and to consider the deductibility of income bond …


Corporations - Liquidation Upon Deadlock In Closely-Held Corporation - Interpretion Of Wisconsin Statute, Strong V. Fromm Laboratories,, Paul Komives May 1957

Corporations - Liquidation Upon Deadlock In Closely-Held Corporation - Interpretion Of Wisconsin Statute, Strong V. Fromm Laboratories,, Paul Komives

Michigan Law Review

Plaintiff, as trustee of an estate, held fifty percent of the shares of a going corporation. An election to fill all four positions on the corporation's board of directors was held. Since a by-law required that directors be shareholders, plaintiff was the only member of his own faction for whom he could vote. The opposing faction, holding the remaining fifty percent of the shares, had four eligible candidates. Votes for each of the four were cast, with one receiving one vote less than the other three. Plaintiff voted all of his shares for himself and also cast a vote of …


Corporations - Shareholders - Majority Liability For Improper Stock Redemption By Corporation And For Misrepresentations In Private Stock Purchases From Minority Holders, James M. Tobin May 1956

Corporations - Shareholders - Majority Liability For Improper Stock Redemption By Corporation And For Misrepresentations In Private Stock Purchases From Minority Holders, James M. Tobin

Michigan Law Review

In 1942 a seemingly innocuous suit was brought against the Axton-Fisher Tobacco Corporation to determine the propriety of the alteration of a stock redemption. In 1955 Judge Leahy of the Federal District Court for Delaware handed down an opinion on the damages and relief to be given in the case in what he hopefully termed was the final phase of this famous litigation. It is the purpose of this comment to appraise the basis of the recovery allowed by Judge Leahy. Two readily distinguishable problems will be treated: (1) the nature of relief from a stock redemption called by fiduciaries …


Corporations - Officers And Directors - Effect Of An Equitable Lien On Directors' Liability, Robert Steele Apr 1956

Corporations - Officers And Directors - Effect Of An Equitable Lien On Directors' Liability, Robert Steele

Michigan Law Review

Defendants, directors of a corporation, appealed from a judgment against them in favor of their company's creditor. The corporation had executed a note promising to repay plaintiff's loan out of the funds from a forthcoming stock issue. The board of directors passed a resolution ordering the officers to repay plaintiff in this manner. The money was then spent for other purposes, with the knowledge of the individual directors, after which the corporation became insolvent. On appeal, held, affirmed. The note and resolution imposed an equitable lien on the fund from the stock sale. The corporation's conversion of this interest …


Creation Of Joint Rights Between Husband And Wife In Personal Property: I, R. Bruce Townsend Apr 1956

Creation Of Joint Rights Between Husband And Wife In Personal Property: I, R. Bruce Townsend

Michigan Law Review

Joint ownership of personal property in recent years has become a common practice--one to which husband and wife are especially addicted. The topic is worthy of more than academic concern as demonstrated by the public use of joint titles in the acquisition of all kinds of personal assets, particularly investment securities. A casual conversation with almost any banker would disclose that a very high percentage of accounts owned by married people are held jointly with their spouses. The current popularity of dual ownership, for example, is reflected in the marketing policy of the United States Treasury in the sale of …


Corporations - Capital Reduction Surplus As A Source Of Divided Payments, John B. Huck May 1955

Corporations - Capital Reduction Surplus As A Source Of Divided Payments, John B. Huck

Michigan Law Review

At the beginning of 1936, plaintiff, a Wisconsin corporation, had an earned surplus deficit of $106,134.89, and a surplus of $685,642.89 created by a reduction of capital stock. Net earnings for 1936 were $121,515.96, none of which were distributed as dividends. An undistributed profits surtax was assessed on the entire current net earnings. Plaintiff sued for a partial refund under an amendment providing retroactive relief for corporations which were prohibited by law from paying dividends during the existence of a deficit in accumulated earnings at the time when the tax was paid. The district court denied relief. On appeal, held …


Corporations - Preference Rights On Dissolution, Robert B. Fiske, Jr. S.Ed. Apr 1955

Corporations - Preference Rights On Dissolution, Robert B. Fiske, Jr. S.Ed.

Michigan Law Review

The capital structure of the defendant corporation consisted of class A, class B, and preferred stock. According to the articles of association, the class A stock was entitled to a ten percent dividend before any dividend was paid on the class B. After the class B stock had also received a ten percent dividend, the two classes were to share equally in any further dividends. The charter further provided that on dissolution the holders of the class A stock were entitled to cash to the amount of the par value of their stock before any payment in …


Responsibilities In The Transfer Of Stock, Francis T. Christy Mar 1955

Responsibilities In The Transfer Of Stock, Francis T. Christy

Michigan Law Review

During the past few years there have been increasing efforts on the part of a number of organized groups to establish statutory definitions of the responsibilities of corporations and their transfer agents in the transfer of stock. Among these groups are the Commission on Uniform State Laws, which sponsored the Uniform Fiduciaries Act, the American Law Institute and the National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws, which have jointly produced the new Uniform Commercial Code, the Committee on Simplification of Security Transfers of the Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section of the American Bar Association, of which Committee …


Securities - Rights Of Used Car Purchasers Under Trust Receipt Financing, Walter H. Weiner S.Ed. Dec 1953

Securities - Rights Of Used Car Purchasers Under Trust Receipt Financing, Walter H. Weiner S.Ed.

Michigan Law Review

The recent enactment of the Uniform Trust Receipts Act: by the Michigan legislature was an important and much needed revision in the Michigan law of chattel security. Although the UTRA has been referred to as a " . . . perplexing maze of technical phrases ... ," it is submitted that the act contains a clear presentation of the changes which are to be effected, and should go far in freeing the financing of goods in the flow of commerce from some anachronistic shackles. The particular intent of this comment is to explore the impact of the UTRA and other …


Corporations - Liability Of Stockholders Of Bank Stock Holding Company For Statutory Assessment On Bank Stock., Edward J. Wendrow Jun 1938

Corporations - Liability Of Stockholders Of Bank Stock Holding Company For Statutory Assessment On Bank Stock., Edward J. Wendrow

Michigan Law Review

The late depression with its attendant bank failures and the consequent assessment of shareholders has resulted in bringing before the courts a question that has never been litigated until comparatively recent times. That is, can the shareholders of a holding company, whose assets consist of stock of the closed bank, be subjected to the statutory assessment when the corporation itself is unable to meet the assessment? The case of Nettles v. Rhett is the latest of this series, and is fairly typical of the issues involved. This case concerned a suit by the receiver of the Peoples State Bank of …


Banks And Banking - Bank Stock Holding Company As Fraud On Double Liability Statute Dec 1934

Banks And Banking - Bank Stock Holding Company As Fraud On Double Liability Statute

Michigan Law Review

The question as to when, to prevent evasion of a statutory liability, a court will look behind a corporate entity in order to hold individual stockholders liable has been raised in two recent cases. The first, a federal case, involved the Detroit Bankers Company, a Michigan corporation formed for the purpose of holding and investing in bank stocks. Each corporate stock certificate of the holding company contained an "agreement" that the holder of the stock would be liable for his pro rata share of any assessment for which the corporation might become liable as a result of the failure of …


Banks And Banking - Liability Of Stockholders For Debts In Insolvencies Occurring After Transfer Of Stock, Warren W. Kennerly Jun 1932

Banks And Banking - Liability Of Stockholders For Debts In Insolvencies Occurring After Transfer Of Stock, Warren W. Kennerly

Michigan Law Review

The effect of the holding of the Sanders case is of special interest at the present time because of the large number of recent bank failures. This decision may possibly result in former stockholders of Illinois state banks and the heirs of former stockholders being subjected to an assessment on stock that was disposed of several decades ago. The holding is applicable only to state banks, since national banks are not subject to state regulation. It would not be surprising if this Illinois holding should be followed in Nebraska, since the latter state has already based some of its rulings …


Some Legal Problems Connected With Stock Market Transactions, S. Ashley Guthrie, Henry F. Tenney Nov 1930

Some Legal Problems Connected With Stock Market Transactions, S. Ashley Guthrie, Henry F. Tenney

Michigan Law Review

If any one were asked what was the most dramatic event of the last year, he probably refer at once to the collapse of the great Bull Market on the New York Stock Exchange. This was not only a dramatic event, but it was literally a tragedy for hundreds of thousands of people. Securities shrank to less than half their former inflated values and hundreds of millions of dollars in cash and paper profits were lost over night, or possibly we should say over two nights, for the crash occurred in two stages, one in October and one in November, …


Note And Comment, George E. Kennedy, Louis P. Lackey, John R. Rood, Gordon Stoner, Ralph W. Aigler Nov 1913

Note And Comment, George E. Kennedy, Louis P. Lackey, John R. Rood, Gordon Stoner, Ralph W. Aigler

Michigan Law Review

The Law School -As a result of the increased requirements for admission, which are now in their second year of operation, the attendance at the Law School is less than that of last year, though the decrease is less than was anticipated at the time of the adoption of the higher requirements. The entering class (the second, under the new standard) is about thirty larger than that of last year. There are no changes in the teaching staff, and none of great importance in the curriculum.


Recent Important Decisions May 1913

Recent Important Decisions

Michigan Law Review

Banks and Banking - Right to Set-off Deposit Against Debt Due Bank - L. Bank set off a matured debt due to it by a depositor against the amount due by the bank to the depositor, all of which was done after the death of the depositor and after appraisers appointed to set apart a year's support to his widow had made a return, setting apart the amount due by the bank to the decedent. Held, that the bank exercised its right of setoff too late, Luthersville Banking Co. v. Hopkins (Ga. 1913) 77 S. R: 589.


Recent Important Decisions Mar 1913

Recent Important Decisions

Michigan Law Review

Bankruptcy - Judgment for Breach of Promis, Aggravated by Seduction, Not Dischargeable - Petitioner 'had secured a judgment against the bankrupt for the breach of a promise to marry, seduction under such promise having been pleaded in aggravation of damages; the common law rule prevails in New York and a woman may not maintain an action for her own seduction. The District Court (196 Fed. 571), viewing this as a judgment grounded solely in contract, and not in tort as "for -will-ful and malicious injury to the person or property of another," or for "seduction of an unmarried female," held …


Recent Important Decisions, Michigan Law Review Nov 1912

Recent Important Decisions, Michigan Law Review

Michigan Law Review

Animals--Abuse--Malice Toward the Owner; Assault and Battery--Apparent Ability; Bankruptcy--marshaling Assets of Partnership and of Constituent Firm; Banks and Banking--Checks--Fictitious Payee; Bills and Notes--Bona Fide Holder; Carrier--duty to Protect Passengers; Constitutional law--Division of Powers--Infringement on Executive; Constitutional law--Eminent Domain--Supersedure of Ordinance of 1787; Constitutional law--Special Legislation--Automobiles; Corporations--Issue of Stock--Corporation of Two States; Courts--Jurisdiction--Damage to Real Property Without the State--Negligence; Damage--Personal Injuries Contributing to Disease; Deeds--Assignment o fright of Entry Between Heirs; Deeds--Restrictive Covenant--"building" Defined; Equity--Infringement of Trade Marks--"Clean Hands"--Husband and Wife--Estate by Entirety--Conveyance of Husband's Interest; Judgment--Effect of the Transcript of a Justice's Judgement Filed in the District Court; Judgment--Estoppel--Homestead; Marriage--What …


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 Jan 1911

Recent Important Decisions, Michigan Law Review

Michigan Law Review

Adverse Possession--Paper Title--Constructive Possession--Occupancy; Bankruptcy--Property Vesting in Trustee--Insurance Policies with Cash Surrender Value Absorbed by a Lien; Bankruptcy--Provable Debts--Contingent Claims--Landlord and Tenant; Bills and Notes--Incomplete and Undelivered Check, completed and Negotiated by Thief--Delivery Not Presumed; Bills and Notes--Note Distinguished from Testamentary Disposition; Contracts--Consideration--Forbearance to Sue; Contracts--Illegal Contract--Agent's Liability for Proceeds; Corporations--corporate Stock--Priority of Rights Between Unrecorded Transferee and Attachment Creditor; Criminal Procedure--Sealed Verdict--Separation of Jury; Eminent Domain--Streets--Power to Condemn Land Required for Railroad Purposes; Evidence--Presumptions and Burden of Proof in Case of Corporation Charged with Crime; Garnishments--On What Actions Available--Liquidated Claims; Insurance--change of Rates in Mutual Benefit Association; Judgments--Foreign Judgment--Merger--Bar; …


Recent Important Decisions, Michigan Law Review Jan 1910

Recent Important Decisions, Michigan Law Review

Michigan Law Review

Bankruptcy--Corporation "Engaged Principally in Manufacturing"; Bankruptcy--Invalidity of Liens for Want of Record; Bills and Notes--Effect of Agreement to Pay Attorney's Fees on Negotiability; Boundaries--Street--Riparian Rights; Carriers--Negligent Delay of Passenger--Liability; Constitutional Law--Due Process of Law--Banking--Guaranty Fund; Constitutional Law--Vested rights--rights in Navigable and Non-Navigable Waters; Contracts--Performance of Building Contract; Corporations--Capital Stock--Trust Fund--Right of Bank to Purchase its own Stock; Corporations--Ownership of Stock--Unlawful Pledge--Rights of Pledgee; Damage--Breach of Covenant Against Incumbrances--Though Incumbrance Removed Nominal Damages Recoverable; Divorce--Grounds--Extreme Cruelty--Malicious Charges; Dower--Right to Dower--Divorce--Interlocutory Decree; Evidence--difference Between Burden of Proof and burden of Evidence; Evidence--Proof of Death--Privileged Communications Between Husband and Wife; Homestead--Fraudulent Conveyance--Right of …


Recent Important Decisions, Michigan Law Review Jan 1907

Recent Important Decisions, Michigan Law Review

Michigan Law Review

Attorney and Client--Unnecessary Services--Compensation; Bankruptcy--Title to Bankrupt's Property; Banks and Banking--Checks--Appropriation of Deposit--Garnishment; Chattel Mortgages--Retention of Possession and Power of Sale by Mortgagor--Fraud; Civil Rights--Power of Congress to Protect Against Individual Interference; Common Carriers--Limitation of Liability--Agreed Valuation; Constitutional Law--Delegation of Legislative Power--Regulations of Executive Departments; Constitutional Law--Regulation of Child Labor; Contracts--Mutuality--Consideration; Contracts--Restraint of Trade; Corporations--Misuse of Funds--Right of Stockholder to Sue; Corporations--Preferred Stock--Priorities--Cumulative Dividends; Covenants--Knowledge by the Grantee of Incumbrance; Criminal Law--conviction of Lesser Offense as Acquittal of Graver Offense--Former Jeopardy--Remanding Cause for Sentence; Damages--Mental Anguish--Undelivered Telegram; Deeds--Exceptions--Reservations--Abandonment of Right of Way--Reversion--Effect; Eminent Domain--Cemeteries; Evidence--Privileged Communications--Attorney and Client; Evidence--Res Gestae--Spontaneous …


Note And Comment, Harry B. Hutchins, Ralph W. Aigler, Fabian B. Dodds, Justice Wilson Jan 1907

Note And Comment, Harry B. Hutchins, Ralph W. Aigler, Fabian B. Dodds, Justice Wilson

Michigan Law Review

What is the Practice of Medicine?; A Home Rule Charter and the Constitution; Recent Decisions on Trade-Marks and Unfair Trade; Liability of Anomalous or Irregular Indorser; Treatise Part of the Supreme Law of the Land;


Recent Important Decisions, Michigan Law Review Jun 1906

Recent Important Decisions, Michigan Law Review

Michigan Law Review

Attorney--disbarment for Malpractice; Bills and Notes--Certification of Check; Bills and Notes--consideration--Illegal Use of Proceeds--Sunday Contracts; Bills and Notes--Notice of Protest; Carrier--Invalid Ticket--Tender of Cash Fare--Ejection of Passenger; Common Carriers--Express Companies--Municipal Tax on Delivery of Intoxicating Liquors--Mandamus to Compel Transportation; Common Carriers--Limitation of Liability by Special Contract--Hand Baggage; Constitutional Law--Obligation of Contract; Constitutional law--Privileges of Citizens--Interstate Commerce--Peddler's License; Corporations--conflict of Laws--Liability of Stockholders in Company Formed to Trade in a Foreign Country--Implied Authority to Pledge Personal Credit of Shareholders Under Foreign Law; Covenants--Privity of Estate; Criminal Law--False Pretenses--Post payable Check; Criminal Law--Presumption from Identity of Names; Deeds--Capacity of Grantor as Compared …