Digital Commons Network^™

Federal Antitrust Law--Price Discrimination--Proof And Measurement Of Damages In Treble Damage Action, Richard A. Miller S.Ed.

Michigan Law Review

Section 2(a) of the Robinson-Patman Act makes it unlawful for a seller to charge buyers who compete with each other different prices for commodities of like grade and quality. Price discrimination which violates this section operates to confer an unlawful benefit upon a favored buyer by making his costs of obtaining, using, or reselling the particular commodities involved lower than the similar costs of non-favored buyers and puts non-favored buyers at a competitive disadvantage to the extent that the difference in costs affects the ability of favored and non-favored buyers to compete with one another. If this wrongfully induced competitive …

Federal Procedure-Appellate Practice-"Excusable Neglect" In Failing To Perfect Criminal Appeal Provides No Ground For Collateral Review Of Conviction, H. C. Snyder Jr.

Michigan Law Review

After the ten-day period for filing a notice of appeal from a federal criminal conviction had expired, defendant filed a motion under section 2255 of the Judicial Code to set aside his sentence under a conviction for armed robbery. The motion was based on the improper admission of a confession given during an allegedly unlawful detention. The district court denied the motion on the ground that the error asserted did not amount to a denial of a constitutional right and that only constitutional defects are subject to attack after the time for an appeal has expired. The District of Columbia …

Hurst: Law And Social Process In United States History, Robert S. Hunt

Michigan Law Review

A Review of Law and Social Process in United States History. By James Willard Hurst.

Space Communications And The Law: Adequate International Control After 1963?, Samuel D. Estep, Amalya L. Kearse

Michigan Law Review

During the current year, a space event of legal and technological significance will occur. The American Telephone and Telegraph Company (A.T. & T.), using the launching facilities of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), will launch its first satellite for research in the area of commercial communications.† The A.T. & T. sphere will be the first tested by a private, commercial organization specifically for business purposes- to implement a plan eventually to provide increased and improved telecommunications on a grand scale at a lower cost. The satellite will relay television signals from the United States to England, Germany, and …

Periodical Index, Michigan Law Review

Michigan Law Review

This index includes articles, comments and some of the longer notes which have appeared in leading law reviews since the publication of the last issue of this Review.

Legal, Medical And Psychiatric Considerations In The Control Of Prostitution, B. J. George Jr.

Michigan Law Review

In common with other nations of the world the United States today as in the past is faced with the problem of controlling prostitution, particularly in urban areas. At one time or another states and cities in the United States have experimented with the classic methods of controlling prostitution: reglementation, segregation and repression. Reglementation of individual houses or prostitutes has never been carried out on a statewide basis in any state in the United States, though one can find instances in certain large cities in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries in which city ordinances or de facto police regulations …

Insurance-Rate Regulation-Construction And Effect Of Guaranty Bond Agreement, Robert L. Harmon

Michigan Law Review

Plaintiff, an insurance agents' association and several other insurance companies and associations, instituted an action attacking an order of the State Board of Insurance. The order approved a guaranty bond form, together with rates and rules, which had been submitted to ,the Board pursuant to statute by the defendant insurance company. The guaranty agreement was an arrangement whereby defendant guaranteed payment of losses under fire insurance policies of other insurers in the event the latter should be unable to pay. Although the bond form was not restricted to any specific original insurers, it was contemplated that defendant would use ,the …

Torts-Libel-Constitutionality Of Retraction Statute Eliminating General Damages Recovery, John W. Galanis

Michigan Law Review

Following publication of allegedly libelous statements made by defendants during a televised news broadcast, plaintiff commenced an action to recover damages. Defendants' motion to strike the allegations of general and punitive damages was granted by the trial court since the complaint did not allege that defendants intended to defame plaintiff, or that defendants refused to publish a requested retraction of a non-intentional libel, both of which are conditions precedent to recovery of such damages under the Oregon statute. Plaintiff failed to plead further and judgment was entered for defendants. On appeal to the Oregon Supreme Court, held, affirmed. The …

Banking-Disclosure Of Records-The Duty Of A Bank As To Customer Information, Robert B. Wessling S.Ed.

Michigan Law Review

The purpose of this comment, therefore, is to describe the scope of the banker's duty as to customer information as best it can be discerned in light of the increasing exchange of credit information and increasing resort to such information by government agencies-particularly the Internal Revenue Service. In the process, it is hoped that attention will be drawn to the uncertainty which exists in this area, perhaps prompting action by the states or the banks themselves to clarify the scope of the duty and to encourage uniform treatment of customer information in a manner consistent with this duty.

Taxation-Federal Estate Tax-The Construction Of Section 2036, William S. Bach S .Ed.

Michigan Law Review

This comment will explore two problems: first, an analysis of the legislative history of the present section 2036 in an effort to discover exactly which property relationships Congress intended to reach by this provision; second, an examination of the treatment which several specific arrangements have been given by the courts to determine whether there is any degree of certainty or predictability in the application of section 2036.

The Casual Relation Issue In Negligence Law, Leon Green

Michigan Law Review

Two significant legal studies of "Causation"-one English, one American-have been recently published. The English book brings to the subject more scholarly learning and a more comprehensive examination of its literature than any other book that has been written. The authors are devoted disciples of causation principles and make a stout defense of the causation concept as the structural core of negligence law. They examine the philosophical, common sense and semantic backgrounds of causal concepts as the basis of legal liability, find that they have merit, and launch extended, and sometimes devastating, attack upon theories that question their adequacy, though in …

Damages-Pain And Suffering-Use Of A Mathematical Formula, Thomas D. Heekin S .Ed.

Michigan Law Review

Measurement of damages for pain and suffering is, in a sense, an attempt to measure the unmeasurable; yet as long as our law recognizes a right to recover for pain and suffering, the jury or judge must arrive at some concrete figure. The traditional approach of simply instructing the jury that they should arrive at a reasonable amount provides little, if any, guidance. The question is whether this approach, nevertheless, remains the best of a bad lot of alternatives. If more guidance is desirable, what can be accomplished within the framework of our present system? The mathematical formula discussed in …

Constitutional Law-Civil Rights-Solitary Confinement Of Prisoner's Based On Religious Belief, Harvey Friedman

Michigan Law Review

Plaintiff prisoner brought an action in a federal district court under the Civil Rights Act to enjoin the defendant, a New York state prison warden, from further subjecting him to solitary confinement because of his religious beliefs. The district court refused to take jurisdiction on the ground that solitary confinement involved state prison discipline which was reviewable only in state courts. On appeal, held, reversed, one judge dissenting. A complaint by a prisoner against a state prison official which charges violation of a "preferred freedom" by religious persecution states a claim under the Civil Rights Act which the district …

Securities Regulation- Federal Courts-Private Rights Of Action Under The Investment Company Act Of 1940, Lee D. Powar

Michigan Law Review

Two actions for damages were brought against officers and directors of a mutual investment fund alleging violations of the Investment Company Act of 1940. These actions, by the fund itself and by a stockholder on behalf of the fund, were consolidated in a federal district court. The court denied defendant's motion to dismiss for want of federal jurisdiction. On an interlocutory appeal by the non-affiliated directors, held, reversed. The Investment Company Act of 1940 does not expressly or by implication create a private right of action cognizable in the federal courts against non-affiliated directors. Brouk v. Managed Funds, Inc. …

Donnelly, Goldstein & Schwartz: Criminal Law, B. J. George Jr.

Michigan Law Review

A Review of Criminal Law. By Richard C. Donnelly, Joseph Goldstein and Richard D. Schwartz.

Periodical Index, Michigan Law Review

Michigan Law Review

This index includes articles, comments and some of the longer notes which have appeared in leading law reviews since the publication of the last issue of this Review.

Chinese Communist Law: Its Background And Development, Luke T. Lee

Michigan Law Review

It is perhaps axiomatic to state that law is more than an instrument for the settlement of disputes and punishment of wrongdoers; it is, more importantly, a reflection of the way of life and the philosophy of the people that live under it. Self-evident though the above may be, it bears repeating here, for there is a much greater need for understanding Chinese law now than ever before. China's growing ideological, political, economic, and military impact on the rest of the world would alone serve as a powerful motivation for the study of its law. Certainly, we could not even …

Insurance Law - Recovery - Action For Wrongful Refusal To Settle Claim Precluded By Bankruptcy Of Insured, James A. Mcdermott

Michigan Law Review

The plaintiff, as trustee in bankruptcy of the insured, sued the defendant insurer to recover damages resulting from a judgment entered against the insured in a personal injury suit. This judgment subjected the insured to a liability of 89,000 dollars in excess of the 10,000 dollar automobile liability_ coverage carried with the insurer. The insurer, pursuant to its policy, had undertaken the insured's defense and had failed, allegedly in bad faith, to settle the suit for an amount within the limits of its coverage. Before judgment was entered in the personal injury suit the insured was insolvent; six months following …

Wills - Probate - "Fraudulent" Destruction Notwithstanding Testator's Knowledge, Alan Rothenberg

Michigan Law Review

Decedent executed a will in which he exercised a general testamentary power of appointment making plaintiff beneficiary of a trust. The will was delivered for safekeeping to a notary in Germany and subsequently destroyed in a bombing raid. Decedent, having learned of the destruction of his will, died ten months later without executing a new will in the interim. The Surrogate admitted the will for probate as one "fraudulently destroyed" under New York law. The Appellate Division reversed. On appeal to the New York Court of Appeals, held, reversed, three judges dissenting. The will was "fraudulently destroyed" within the meaning …

Immigration And Naturalization-Suspension Of Deportation- A Look At A Benevolent Aspect Of The Mccarran-Walter Act, Kenneth W. Graham Jr., S.Ed.

Michigan Law Review

This comment proposes to look, for a change, at one of the ameliorative portions of the act, the provisions which allow suspension of deportation for certain deserving aliens. This section of the statute is not only unusual in its solicitude for the foreign-born and their families but is also effectuated by a peculiar interaction of the legislative, executive and judicial branches of government. Before considering the substantive law governing suspension of deportation, it is appropriate to look at the procedural aspects involved in applying the raw statutory language.

Some Problems Of Evidence Before The Labor Arbitrator, R. W. Fleming

Michigan Law Review

Legal rules of evidence do not, of course, apply before the labor arbitrator. This is not surprising since such rules were developed in connection with jury trials, and do not apply strictly in any tribunal but a jury-court. The whole theory of the arbitration tribunal is that it is composed of experts who repeatedly inquire into a relatively homogeneous kind of cases. Exclusionary rules are hardly required as a precautionary measure. Indeed, as the late Harry Shulman said in his classic Oliver Wendell Holmes lecture at Harvard in 1955, "The more serious danger is not that the arbitrator will hear …

Federal Agency Investigations: Procedural Rights Of The Subpoenaed Witness, Frank C. Newman

Michigan Law Review

This article is designed to help fill a gap in the literature and to warn government attorneys, particularly, about some questionable asides in the Hannah case. We shall not deal with record-keeping requirements or with agency inspections, subpoenas duces tecum, and related search and seizure problems. The focus instead is on the subpoenaed witness; that is, a man who knows that force may be used against him unless pursuant to government command he appears and answers questions. We examine several rights that may protect the witness; and we shall also ask whether the agencies, to discharge their governmental duties, truly …

State Control Of Radiation Hazards: An Intergovernmental Relations Problem, Samuel D. Estep, Martin Adelman

Michigan Law Review

The purpose of this article is to set forth the nature of the intergovernmental problem. This involves an analysis of the extent and limitations of federal power, a determination of congressional intent on the issue of federal pre-emption, and an appraisal of the steps now being taken by the Atomic Energy Commission to turn over part of the radiation safety regulatory program to the states.

Evidence- Hearsay-Scope Of Federal Rule 43(A), David K. Kroll S. Ed

Michigan Law Review

The clocktower of plaintiff county's courthouse buckled and collapsed into the courtroom below. Charred timbers were found in the wreckage. Several residents reported that they saw lightning strike the tower five days before the collapse. Plaintiff carried insurance for loss by fire or lightning, and sued the insurers when they denied liability. Defendant claimed that the tower collapsed of its own weight because of faulty design, deterioration, and overloading. To account for the charred timbers defendant introduced into evidence a fifty-eight-year-old newspaper article from the files of the city newspaper describing a fire in the courthouse during its construction. The …

Taxation- Federal Income Tax-Status Of Stock-For-Stock Exchange Where Boot Is Involved, Roger B. Harris S. Ed

Michigan Law Review

Taxpayer was the sole stockholder of International Dairy Supply Company. In 1952, Foremost Dairies, Inc. acquired from taxpayer all his stock in Supply Company in exchange for 82,375 shares of Foremast's common stock and 3,000,000 dollars cash. Taxpayer reported as gain from the transaction only the 3,000,000 dollars "boot" received, less allowable expenses. The Commissioner determined a deficiency of 278,823 dollars, asserting that the nonrecognition provision of the 1939 Code counterpart of section 356 (a) (1) was inapplicable and therefore taxpayer's entire gain realized on the disposition must be recognized. The Tax Court upheld taxpayer's contention that by virtue of …

Federal Antitrust Laws - Exclusive Dealing - Standards Of Illegality Under Section 3 Of The Clayton Act, Judd L. Bacon S. Ed.

Michigan Law Review

In a recent treatment of exclusive dealing arrangements, Tampa Elec. Co. v. Nashville Coal Co., the Supreme Court enunciates with some care the standards to be applied in judging the legality of requirements contracts under section 3 of the Clayton Act. This comment analyzes the merits and the impact of this needed clarification of a controversial area of antitrust law.

Exclusive marketing arrangements manifest themselves in various forms, and it is not uncommon to find more than one variety in a given contract. This inquiry, however, will be restricted largely to full requirements contracts, obligating a buyer to purchase …

The Investigatory Powers Of The Comptroller General Of The United States, Gustave M. Hauser

Michigan Law Review

This article examines the statutory responsibility and authority of the Comptroller General to investigate executive action for the purpose of determining whether the legitimacy of his requests for information may be challenged by the executive branch on statutory as well as on constitutional grounds.

Bills And Notes-Payees By Impersonation And By Assumption Of A Name-Drawer's Intent And Commercial Policy, Stuart S. Gunckel S. Ed.

Michigan Law Review

Consider the following scheme for fraudulently obtaining money: A, a stranger to D, personally appears before D, represents himself as B and requests a loan. There is an existing person named B. For D's security a mortgage is produced in the name of B, but it has actually been penned by A. A check of the land records by D verifies that the land described in the mortgage is in fact owned by B. D, having satisfied himself as to the existence of B, draws a check payable to the …

Contacts - Subrogation - Partial Subrogation Of A Cause Of Action For Personal Injuries, Jerome M. Salle

Michigan Law Review

Plaintiff, an incorporated home for the aged, provided all essential medical care to one of its residents under the provisions of a life-care contract between it and the resident. On the basis of a contract clause which purported to subrogate plaintiff to the right of the resident to recover medical expenses caused by the negligence of third parties, plaintiff brought an action to recover certain medical expenses incurred from the party who was allegedly responsible for the injuries and death of the resident. The trial court sustained a demurrer to the complaint for failure to state a cause of action …

Constitutional Law - Equal Protection - Racial Discrimination And The Role Of The State, William C. Griffith S.Ed.

Michigan Law Review

Constitutional history from the 1857 Dred Scott decision to the 1954 Brown decision records "a movement from status to contract" for the American Negro. Although uncertainty clouds the definition of "state action," the civil rights of the Negro under the equal protection clause of the fourteenth amendment have been clearly established. The Negro citizen has arrived; the Negro minority group remains one of the gravest social problems of twentieth century America. De facto school segregation, limited economic opportunity, and inadequate housing are problems not solved by invocation of the fourteenth amendment or incantation of the Declaration of Independence. Solution, …