Digital Commons Network^™

Trade Marks - Registration - Color As A Common-Law Or Technical Trade Mark, Michigan Law Review

Michigan Law Review

Plaintiff had applied for registration of a trade mark for a cleaning powder consisting of a rectangular yellow panel, bounded by a contrasting blue border, affixed to the container of the goods. The mark was accompanied by two other trade marks and by certain descriptive material impressed on the body of the mark within the blue border, for which trade marks and descriptive matter registration was not sought. The Commissioner refused to register the mark on the ground that it would not indicate the origin or ownership of the goods, and on the further ground that it would be regarded …

Labor Law - Constitutionality Of State Anti-Injunction Acts - Existence Of A "Labor Dispute", Theodore R. Vogt

Michigan Law Review

Organized labor has long contested the use of the injunction in labor disputes and since the turn of the century has been active in legislative circles to secure statutory relief from the paralyzing effect of the too-freely granted temporary injunction and restraining order. A substantial step forward was the enactment of the Clayton Act by Congress. Similar legislation was adopted by several states, some before and some after the congressional action. However, the expected benefits to labor did not accrue, for the Supreme Court in Duplex Printing Press Co. v. Deering so narrowly construed the statute as to rob it …

Constitutional Law - The Federal-State System Of Unemployment Compensation Under The Social Security Act, Elbert R. Gilliom

Michigan Law Review

One of the last pieces of New Deal social legislation to receive the judicial sanction of the United States Supreme Court before the end of its epoch-making October 1936 term is the tax imposed on employers of eight or more by Title IX of the Social Security Act of 1935. Through the operation of eleven expressly separable "titles," the comprehensive act (1) authorizes future appropriations to the states for old-age assistance, unemployment compensation administration, aid to dependent children, maternal and child welfare, services for crippled children, public health work, and aid to the blind; (2) establishes a system of federal …

Patents, Copyrights And Trade Secrets - Destruction Of Infringing Instruments Owned By Infringer, Michigan Law Review

Michigan Law Review

Where a patent is infringed, it is safe to assume that the patenter can collect damages from the infringer as well as secure an accounting for profits and an injunction against further infringement. Any one of these forms of relief or of various combinations is usually granted as a matter of course. Such relief is also granted for infringement of trade secrets, copyrights and literary property. Many courts believe that the problem is solved at this point. But two questions still remain: Does this relief give sufficient practical protection to the plaintiff? And, if not, can destruction of the tangible …

Taxation - Jurisdiction Of A State To Tax Personal Incomes, Jack L. White

Michigan Law Review

There have been comparatively few decisions of the United States Supreme Court involving questions of the jurisdiction of a state to impose income taxes, so that each case that has been reported has called for an adjustment of the earlier statements of the law in that field. Such a case was recently decided. It is the purpose of this comment to consider the earlier cases in the light of that decision, and to determine what proportion of the income of a resident, and of a non-resident, a state may tax.

Attorney And Client - Constitutionality Of Statute Authorizing Laymen To Appear Before Workmen's Compensation Commission, Milton Rabinowitz

Michigan Law Review

Pursuant to legislative authorization the Illinois Industrial Commission promulgated a rule permitting representation by attorney or agent in proceedings before the Commission. Defendant, a layman, had made a business of handling and adjusting compensation claims, and an information was brought against him under a state statute forbidding unauthorized practice of law. Defendant sought sanctuary in the general license granted by the Commission, but the court held, that the Commission's rule was an infringement of judicial power in violation of the state constitution, and, consequently was no defense to the action. Chicago Bar Association v. Goodman, (Ill. 1937) U. …

Conditional Wills, Alvin E. Evans

Michigan Law Review

The discovery of what the language of a testator means is a constant duty of the courts. The task in the case of wills conditional in form frequently is to inquire whether the conditional language is merely formal and used by way of inducement or is intended to be taken literally. Clear cut and uniformly dependable tests as guides to such inquiry do not exist.

The Non-Recognition Law Of The United States, Kimon A. Doukas

Michigan Law Review

We speak of nations as being equal, independent and sovereign within the fixed confines of their physical boundaries. As aptly stated by our Supreme Court, in the civilized world of today, "Every sovereign State is bound to respect the independence of every other sovereign State, and the courts of one country will not sit in judgment on the acts of the government of another done within its own territory."

Air Law - Legal Status Of Airplane Flight, Philip A. Hart Jr.

Michigan Law Review

The classical statement of the extent of the landowner's right to the air space above his land is the maxim, Cujus est solum ejus est usque ad coelum. It is recognized, however, that decisions stating such a rule are not in point upon the status of air navigation today, for when those decisions were rendered flights were made in fancy only. Hence it is that all cases deciding this modern problem have disregarded the literal meaning of this maxim and tried to strike a compromise between the claims of air navigation and the claims of ownership. Three theories have …

International Law -- Anti-Smuggling Bill -- Jurisdiction On The High Seas, James H. Roberton

Michigan Law Review

The control which a littoral state may exercise over the adjacent sea has never been the subject of complete agreement among the nations of the world. Inability to agree and resulting confusion have arisen in many instances from a failure to distinguish between a claim of control over a definite strip of adjacent water, often spoken of as "territorial waters," analogous to the control exercised on land and a claim that, for the well-being of the littoral state, control for limited and specific purposes may be extended beyond these territorial waters. The most obvious example of this latter type of …

Adverse Possession - Tacking Possessions Of Land Not Included In Deed - Michigan Rule, Michigan Law Review

Michigan Law Review

By agreement with plaintiffs' predecessor in title, defendants' grantor set out a hedge on what both parties believed to be the true dividing line between their respective lots but which was in fact seven feet south of the true line. Defendants' grantor occupied the strip up to the hedge for ten years and then sold the lot to defendants, at the time of sale pointing out to them the piece of property believed to be the lot he was selling. He delivered possession and a deed which did not include the seven-foot strip within its calls. Six years later plaintiffs …

Banks And Banking - Countermand Of Bank Drafts, Michigan Law Review

Michigan Law Review

Plaintiff purchased of defendant bank its draft on a correspondent bank, made payable to the order of the plaintiff, who indorsed it to a third party in part payment on a contract. Six days later, deciding that the contract was tainted with illegality, plaintiff requested defendant bank to stop payment on the draft. Defendant refused to do so unless the plaintiff posted a bond. A few days later the draft was paid. Plaintiff sought damages for defendant's refusal. Held, that although defendant bank could have countermanded the draft if it so chose, it was under no duty to do …

Constitutional Law - Interstate Commerce Validity Of State Statute Regulating Automobiles Driven Into The State For Purpose Of Sale, Walter Probst Jr.

Michigan Law Review

A statute of California forbade the transportation of automobiles from without the state for the purpose of sale within or without the state unless there be attached to each vehicle a special permit issued by the State Motor Vehicle Department, for which a fifteen dollar fee was exacted. A suit was brought to restrain state officers from enforcing this statute. Held, the statute imposed an unconstitutional burden upon interstate commerce. Ingels v. Morf, (U.S. 1937) 57 S. Ct. 439, affirming (D. C. Cal. 1936) 14 F. Supp. 922.

Judges - De Facto Judge - Special Judge Holding Over After Term Of Assignment Expires, Michigan Law Review

Michigan Law Review

A district judge, specially assigned to a court other than his own for a term of one week, continued to hold the position after the period had expired under the belief that his assignment covered a longer period, and tried this case after the expiration of the one week period. All attorneys, assuming that the assignment covered a longer period, acted in the case without objection to the judge. The parties did not specifically agree upon him as a special judge. After verdict for defendant, plaintiff moved to vacate. Held, the judge was a de facto judge, and his …

Libel And Slander - Qualified Privilege - Fair Comment - Bona Fide Misstatement Of Fact, Michigan Law Review

Michigan Law Review

A newspaper publisher reported in his papers the filing by a certain person, with executive officers of the United States, of charges that a federal employee had removed certain documents from files over which he had supervision. The filed charges were "greatly enlarged and embellished upon" by the publisher, so that the statements made in the paper amounted in themselves to charges by the publisher against the employee. There were no allegations of malice in the subsequent suit by the employee against the publisher. Held, that the right of fair comment upon matters of public interest does not extend …

Gratuitous Promises-A New Writ?, Warren L. Shattuck

Michigan Law Review

Under the early common law, the fact situations which presented actionable wrongs were limited in number and stereotyped into various writs which issued from the Lord Chancellor. Only as new writs were devised by him was it possible for new fact situations to achieve the dignity of justiciability and so raise legal rights and duties. But with the liberalization of pleading the recognition of new legal rights and duties became a judicial function. In consequence, the constant struggle of new fact patterns for a place in the law is now principally waged before the courts. In this struggle some fail, …

The Doctrine Of Stare Decisis In British Courts Of Last Resort, John A. Fairlie

Michigan Law Review

The House of Lords and the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council are both British courts of last resort. The House of Lords is the final court for the United Kingdom and reviews cases from the English Court of Appeals and equivalent courts of Scotland and Northern Ireland; the Judicial Committee hears appeals of cases from the colonies and dominions and ecclesiastical cases.

Readers of Professor Gray's lectures on The Nature and Sources of the Law are aware of the distinction he notes between the attitude of the British House of Lords, on the one hand, and the Judicial Committee …

Constitutional Law --Twenty-First Amendment And Its Effect On The Commerce Clause And Equal Protection Clause As Applied To Liquor, William Stout Gordon

Michigan Law Review

Plaintiffs were granted an injunction in the lower court restraining the enforcement of the California Alcoholic Beverage Control Act on the ground that it violated the commerce clause and the equal protection clause of the Federal Constitution. The act imposed a license fee of $500 for the privilege of importing beer, in addition to the $50 fee to be paid by all wholesalers for the privilege of selling the beer. The Supreme Court reversed the lower court's decision and held that the Twenty-first Amendment withdrew the protection of the commerce clause from liquor and that there was no denial of …

Criminal Law And Procedure - Federal Courts - Reservation Of Power To Grant Probation After Sentence Begun, Virginia M. Renz

Michigan Law Review

The defendant was convicted of a violation of the National Motor Vehicle Act and a sentence not exceeding one year was imposed, subject to reservation of a power to grant probation later. He served a portion of the sentence. Pursuant to an investigation and report by the probation officer, the defendant was released and put on probation for the remainder of his term. Held, that the district court, under the National Probation Act of 1925, had authority to reserve jurisdiction of the case and to release the defendant and put him on probation after he had served a portion …

Specific Performance - Contract To Make A Will - Right To Specific Relief For Breach Where Promisee Predeceases Promisor, Elbridge D. Phelps

Michigan Law Review

In September, 1930, Cornelius Powell died testate, leaving certain personalty absolutely to his wife, Elizabeth Powell, and devising certain realty to her for life, with a remainder over to his son, Clifford S. Powell. Subsequently, Elizabeth and Clifford entered into a written agreement whereby, in consideration that Clifford would convey all his interest in said realty to her, Elizabeth agreed to execute a will giving to Clifford "at her death all of the property then owned by her, whether real, personal, or mixed." Pursuant to this agreement, the requisite instruments were duly executed. On October 31, 1932, Clifford S. Powell …

Taxation -Federal Estate Tax-Interpretation Of Loss From "Other Casualty", Virginia M. Renz

Michigan Law Review

The Federal Revenue Act provides that losses incurred during settlement of an estate should be deducted when they arise from "fires, storms, shipwreck, or other casualty." Losses to the estate of the testator of the petitioner were caused by Great Britain's going off the gold standard. The petitioners contend this was a casualty within the meaning of the Revenue Act. Held, the language is to be construed according to the rule of ejusdem generis. This casualty is not of the same general kind or class as those specifically mentioned and therefore not within the act. Lyman v. Commissioner of …

Corporation Statutes As The Answer To Parent-Subsidiary Liability, Elvin R. Latty

Michigan Law Review

The purpose of these few pages is to call attention to the view concerning the liability of a parent corporation for obligations of its subsidiaries set forth in a comment in a recent number of the Review.

The "Last Clear Chance" Doctrine In The Federal Courts, Nedra Evans

Michigan Law Review

In analyzing the doctrine of "last clear chance," a qualification of the co.μtributory negligence rule, several questions must be considered. Perhaps the most important one is, (1) Does the court apply the doctrine of discovered peril or is it enough that defendant should have known, by the exercise of reasonable care, plaintiff's peril? (2) Is the doctrine of "last clear chance" confined to cases where the negligence of plaintiff has spent itself? (3) If the doctrine of undiscovered peril is followed for a licensee, will the court still apply the rule of discovered peril if plaintiff is a trespasser? (4) …

Monthly Periodical Index, Michigan Law Review

Michigan Law Review

This department lists the articles and comments which appear in twenty-four leading law reviews.

Corporations - Power Of Majority Stockholders To Reorganize By Transfer Of Assets To New Corporation In Exchange For Stock, Kenneth K. Luce

Michigan Law Review

A private corporation is solvent and prosperous but is nearing the time when its charter will expire. The directors call a stockholders' meeting at which the majority of the stockholders vote: first, to form a new corporation and, second, to transfer all the assets of the old corporation to the new corporation in consideration for the entire capital stock of the new corporation and the assumption by the new corporation of all liabilities of the old corporation. The plan further provides that the old corporation is then to be dissolved, and the stock of the new corporation is to be …

Nuisance Contributory Negligence As Defense, Michigan Law Review

Michigan Law Review

Plaintiff brought action against the county for injuries sustained when his truck fell into an unlighted and unguarded excavation made by the county in the center of the highway for the purpose of repairing a culvert. Held, that defendant's act, though required by statute, was done in such a manner as to constitute active wrongdoing and a public nuisance, to which a plea of contributory negligence is no defense. Hammond v. Monmouth County, (N. J. S. Ct. 1936) 186 A. 452.

The Proposed United States Administrative Court, Part Ii, Robert M. Cooper

Michigan Law Review

The recent movement for the passage of the Logan bill and the establishment of supervisory tribunals for the control of administrative determinations is the result of several preconceived theories concerning the shortcomings of the present system of administrative justice. These underlying theories, cautiously surrounded by a halo of judicial philosophy, have seldom been analyzed in their relation to the development of a sound policy for the administration of governmental functions. The present installment of this article will be devoted first to an examination of these fundamental theories and a consideration of the question how far the present administrative machinery is …

Stockholders' Suits: A Possible Substitute, Harris Berlack

Michigan Law Review

With the rapid expansion in the use of the corporate form of organization for business enterprise which has taken place during the last few decades, increasing attention has been paid by legal scholars to the question of the respective positions, rights and duties of the various components of the corporate structure. The functions, rights, obligations and liabilities of managers, officers, directors and stockholders, both majority and minority, have been analyzed and defined. Mr. Berle's analysis of corporate authority as power held in trust for the benefit of the stockholders has found wide acceptance as a comprehensive synthesis of the conclusions …

Constitutional Law-Resale Price Maintenance -Fair Trade Acts, Joseph H. Mueller

Michigan Law Review

Four cases upholding the validity of the California and Illinois Fair Trade Acts were recently sustained by the United States Supreme Court. All four cases involved a similar set of facts. Plaintiffs, the owners or authorized distributors of certain well known trade-marked articles, entered into a series of contracts with wholesalers and retailers fixing the resale prices of their branded products. When defendants, certain retailers who had refused to enter into such agreements, persisted in reselling the articles below the prices stipulated in the contracts with other retailers, plaintiffs sued to enjoin them under the provisions of the state Fair …

Negligence - Res Ipsa Loquitur - Application To Carriers, Michigan Law Review

Michigan Law Review

Plaintiff was injured while riding on defendant's bus when it was struck by defendant's street car, the collision being caused by the derailment of the street car. It was not made clear on trial what was responsible for the derailment. Held, the defendant controlled both vehicles, the event was of a type which would not ordinarily occur if reasonable care were used, the injury to plaintiff was not due to any voluntary act on her part, so the jury could properly infer that the defendant was negligent under the doctrine of res ipsa loquitur. Birdsall v. Duluth-Superior Transit …