Digital Commons Network^™

Hospitalizing The Mentally Ill, Henry Weihofen

Michigan Law Review

It is hard for lawyers and doctors to see eye to eye on the fundamental problem of how to eliminate needless legalistic formality in hospitalization procedures and at the same time maintain adequate legal safeguards against error and abuse.

Lawyers are inclined to emphasize the need to guard against "railroading" sane persons into institutions without giving them a chance to prove their sanity. They therefore stress the importance of a fair trial, with adequate notice and a chance to be heard before being deprived of one's liberty. As a special committee of the American Bar Association said a few years …

Personal Property-Tenancy By The Entirety In United States Series "E" Savings Bonds, William E. Beringer

Michigan Law Review

A trustee in bankruptcy petitioned the referee to order a bank to tum over certain United States Series ''E" Savings Bonds as assets of the bankrupt's estate. The bonds were payable to the bankrupt "or" his wife and had been pledged to the bank by the bankrupt, with his wife's consent, as collateral for a personal loan. The referee denied the petition. On appeal, held, affirmed. Since the bonds were payable to persons who were husband and wife, a tenancy by the entirety was created, with each tenant holding an interest in the whole of the bond property. Neither …

Constitutional Law-Due Process-Restrictions Upon Advertising, Joseph M. Kortenhof

Michigan Law Review

In its efforts to combat gasoline price wars and the fraud that allegedly accompanied them, the City of Pontiac enacted an ordinance designed to restrict the scope of gasoline advertising. It provided that: "No sign or placard stating the price or prices of gasoline other than such signs or placards as hereinabove provided [signs not larger than 12 by 12 inches attached to pumps] shall be posted or maintained on the premises on which said gasoline is sold or offered for sale." Defendant retailed gasoline; by combining hauling and retailing into one operation, savings of about four cents a gallon …

Discipline Of Judges, Frederic M. Miller

Michigan Law Review

In most of the states, judges of the appellate courts and of the trial courts of general jurisdiction are subject to discipline or removal from office by impeachment at the hands of the legislature, pursuant to constitutional provisions analogous to those applicable to the Federal Judiciary. Such proceedings are seldom instituted. The survey indicates that, during the 20 year period from 1928 to 1948, only three impeachment proceedings were prosecuted and in all three the defense prevailed.

Corporations-Majority Shareholder's Fraud In The Purchase Of Stock, Thomas P. Segerson S.Ed.

Michigan Law Review

Whether or not there has been fraud in the purchase of property, due to either affirmative statements or mere non-disclosure, may well depend upon the relation of the purchaser to the vendor. The recent case of Speed v. Transamerica Corporation presents two questions relative to this problem in the purchase of corporation shares: first, whether the price quoted in an offer to purchase can ever be the basis of an action for fraud and deceit; and second, whether the majority shareholder of a corporation occupies a fiduciary relation to minority shareholders in the purchase of their stock. Defendant was the …

Wills-Undue Influence, Wendell B. Will S.Ed.

Michigan Law Review

The right to dispose of one's property at death is one of the more important rights attaching to the ownership of property. Undoubtedly the philosophy behind will statutes is that the presumptive heirs of a man have no claims upon his property and that a testator may do with his property as he pleases within other rules of law. There is more to protecting this right than merely giving effect to a paper presented as the testator's will. The courts must carefully scrutinize this paper to be sure that it actually represents the will of this testator. One of the …

Job-Seeking Aggression, The Nlra, And The Free Market, Sylvester Petro

Michigan Law Review

Two principles are at war in modem labor relations. One, the principle of free choice of employee representation, underlies all modem labor relations legislation. The other, the principle of absolute proprietary rights in certain work, manifests itself in the traditional jurisdictional dispute but occurs in a broader context as well. The labor relations principle, an attempt to order relations between employers and employees on a civilized basis, requires collective bargaining between employers and the representatives of their employees and further declares that the selection of representatives by employees shall be free of coercive interference by employers. Job-seeking aggression, combatting this …

Some Latter Day Developments In The Taxation Of Liquidating Distributions: Is The Cop Still On The Beat?, Willard H. Pedrick

Michigan Law Review

Redemption and salvation are doctrinal terms suggestive of the enthusiasm of the camp meeting. It is altogether fitting that these terms be used in connection with the taxation of corporate liquidating distributions. Through redemption of his stock the shareholder may find this world's nearest approach to fiscal salvation-taxation of his receipts on a capital-gains basis. To say the shareholder's enthusiasm for capital-gains treatment approaches a religious zeal is to underestimate the matter. Nor is it difficult to understand his attitude. If corporate earnings and profits, subjected at the outset to a relatively Hat but heavy corporate income tax, are paid …

Evidence-The Use Of Blood Grouping Tests In Disputed Parentage Proceedings-A Scientific Basis For Discussion, Lewis R. Williams, Jr. S.Ed.

Michigan Law Review

Much has been written concerning the validity of the so-called "blood-grouping tests" in bastardy and other legal proceedings. The general tenor of the writings is in favor of wider acceptance by the courts of the results of these tests. This comment is to be no exception. However, it is the purpose here to emphasize the scientific validity of the blood-grouping tests and to acquaint the reader with the theory upon which the tests rest. If lawyers and judges understand the scientific basis of the tests, a more intelligent decision upon the validity of any given result can be formed, and …

Constitutional Law--Fifth Amendment--Privilege Against Self-Incrimination By Admission Of Occupation And Of Knowledge Of Whereabouts Of A Fugitive Witness, Lois Hambro

Michigan Law Review

Petitioner, who was known as an underworld character and racketeer, was subpoenaed before a federal grand jury investigating federal crime and rackets and was asked his occupation and business and whether he had seen, talked to, or knew the whereabouts of a certain person upon whom a subpoena had been issued but not served requiring such fugitive person to appear before a federal grand jury. He refused to answer on the ground of the constitutional privilege against self-incrimination. Petitioner was adjudged in contempt of court for refusal to answer the questions. The court of appeals affirmed the judgment and the …

Corporations-Dissolution-Payment Of "Accrued Unpaid Dividends" To Preferred Shareholders From Capital, Frank M. Bowen, Jr.

Michigan Law Review

The Big Bend Land Company was in the process of liquidation. The articles of incorporation provided for preferred stock which "in the event of any liquidation . . . " was " . . . entitled to be paid in full the par value thereof, and all accrued unpaid dividends thereon before any sum shall be paid to or any assets distributed among . . ." the common stock. No dividends had ever been declared or paid, nor had there ever been any surplus profits. After discharging all corporate liabilities, including payment of the par value of the preferred stock, …

Federal Procedure-Jurisdiction-Determination Of Amount In Controversy In Class Actions Under Federal Rule 23, James W. Callison

Michigan Law Review

Plaintiff owned 50 shares of common stock valued at $950. She brought an action in behalf of herself and all other stockholders to enjoin a sale of unissued stock by the corporation to its president, claiming a violation of her preemptive right. The district court ruled on the merits. On appeal, held, the plaintiff's interest was but a small fraction of the $3,000 required to invoke the jurisdiction of the federal courts. Although the action was representative, the claims of other stockholders in a like situation could not be cumulated. Ames v. Mengel Co., (2d Cir. 1951) 190 …

Commentary On General Relief Under The Excess Profits Tax Act Of 1950, Thomas N. Tarleau

Michigan Law Review

Analysis of an excess profits tax involves inquiries which are essentially foreign to the concepts of ordinary income taxation. The question of excess profits arises only after taxable income has been defined and characterized, its recipients determined and the time of receipt established. The problem is to divide taxable income into two components, one representing the corporation's normal profits, which it is permitted to enjoy free of the penalty tax, and the balance which is deemed to be "profits due to the outbreak of hostilities and to large military expenditures." Under the Excess Profits Tax Act of 1950, as was …

Employee Stock Options, Reece A. Gardner

Michigan Law Review

The taxation to an employee of the difference between the fair market value of a share of stock transferred to him by a corporate employer, pursuant to the employee's exercise of an option to acquire it at a price below the value of the share, has for years been a matter of dispute between taxpayers and the Commissioner of Internal Revenue. This dispute has involved not merely, as in the case of many of the hardy tax perennials such as reasonableness of compensation, a question as to the application of facts to a well-defined principle of law, but rather a …

Civil Procedure-Abatement-Status Of Suit Nominally Against Government Official When Official Leaves Office, Alan C. Boyd S.Ed.

Michigan Law Review

Often an action brought against an official of the sovereign is actually against the sovereign itself, nominally represented by the official. The status of such a suit when the official leaves office is even today not satisfactorily settled. The so-called representative suit, while at one time serving a purpose, has always been somewhat anomalous and today is antiquated and useless.

Constitutional Law-Due Process-Bill Of Attainder-Loyalty Oaths For City Employee, James I. Huston

Michigan Law Review

In 1948, pursuant to an amendment to its charter, Los Angeles passed an ordinance which provided that all city employees must (1) take an oath that they did not espouse, and had not espoused within five years prior to the effective date of the ordinance, the forceful overthrow of the government; that they were not, nor had they been within the same period, affiliated with a group espousing such aims, and that they would not join any such group while in city employ, and (2) execute an affidavit relating whether they had ever belonged to the Communist Party, and if …

Federal Procedure-Removal Jurisdiction-Jurisdictional Estoppel, Paul M.D. Harrison S.Ed.

Michigan Law Review

Respondent sued petitioner, a Florida corporation, the Indiana Lumbermen's Mutual Insurance Company, an Indiana corporation, and Joe Reiss, a citizen of Texas, in a Texas state court. The complaint asked for relief in the alternative for a fire loss suffered by respondent On the joint petition of the two corporate defendants, the case was removed to the federal court under section 1441(c) of the United States Judicial Code. Respondent unsuccessfully moved to remand the case, and, after trial of the case to a jury, a judgment in favor of the respondent was awarded against the petitioner alone. Petitioner's motion to …

Property-Mechanics' Lien-Validity Against Non-Contracting Co-Owner, Howard Van Antwerp S.Ed.

Michigan Law Review

A and B were tenants in common of a tract of land. Plaintiff contracted with A to build a house thereon, B not being a party. Plaintiff sued A and B to enforce a mechanics' lien for money due on the contract, and was successful against both in the lower court. On appeal, held, reversed. Only A, who contracted to have the house built, was subject to a mechanics' lien. Dente v. Bullis, (Md. 1950) 76 A. (2d) 158.

Trusts And Estates - Relationship By Affinity-Meaning Of The Word "Stepchild" In A Tax Statute, Harold S. Lentz S. Ed.

Michigan Law Review

A widower with two children married Sarah Bordeaux and predeceased her. A child of the marriage died in infancy. The two children were raised by Sarah as if she had been their natural mother. A strong filial relationship developed, and at the death of Sarah in 1949, the bulk of her property passed to the two children by will. The inheritance tax division of the tax commission contended that the relationship by affinity had been terminated and that the children, no longer being "stepchildren," were not entitled to the lower tax rates under Class A of the inheritance tax statute …

Constitutionality Of Marketable Title Acts, Ralph W. Aigler

Michigan Law Review

In recent years several states in that part of the United States commonly identified as the "Middle West" have enacted comprehensive legislation that is hoped will simplify land title transactions. These statutes, though varying in detail, have a common objective-the extinguishment in favor of certain persons of claims against, and interests in, land, which claims and interests arose out of events and transactions that occurred many years ago, unless such claims or interests have been preserved by the recording of a preserving notice within that period of time. A comparatively short period is prescribed for such recording as to old …

The Fourteenth Amendment And The "Separate But Equal" Doctrine, Joseph S. Ransmeier

Michigan Law Review

Recent cases in which the Court has overthrown enforced separation in public higher education on the ground of inequality but without consideration of the merits of the separate but equal rule have been the occasion for an outpouring of law review discussion on the subject. The present paper is a part of this stream. Its purpose is two-fold: first, to set forth the judicial history of the modern separate but equal rule, noting its pre-Fourteenth Amendment origin and the rather uncritical manner in which courts permitted it to infiltrate its way from one area of the law to another; and …

Labor Law-Boycotts And Coercion Of Neutral Employers Under The Taft-Hartley Act, Robert S. Griggs S. Ed.

Michigan Law Review

Four decisions rendered by the Supreme Court. at the close of the 1950 term may alleviate some of the confusion inherent in section 8(b)( 4)(A) of Title I of the Labor Management Relations Act of 1947. This section, whose concern is with the motive with which union activity is undertaken, rather than with the character of the activity itself, is probably the most "broadside" in the act. In essence, it purports to prohibit labor unions from engaging in or inducing strikes and concerted refusals to handle goods, "where an object thereof is ... forcing or requiring . . . any …

Negligence-Duty Of Care-Auctioneer As Owner Or Occupier Of Land, Richard W. Billings S. Ed.

Michigan Law Review

Plaintiff, while attending an auction conducted by defendant, purchased a large kitchen cabinet. As her sons attempted to remove the cabinet, their negligent handling of the piece caused the top half to become dislodged and to fall on the plaintiff, injuring her seriously. Defendant, a veteran auctioneer, was in full control of the auction and the area in which the injury occurred, and had invited the public to attend by means of advertisements. He had offered the sons no assistance, nor had he given the crowd warning of their dangerous activity. On appeal from a judgment for plaintiff, held, …

Negligence-Violation Of A Dog-Leash Ordinance As A Basis For Negligence, John J. Edman S. Ed.

Michigan Law Review

Defendant, in violation of a city ordinance requiring every owner or custodian of a dog to keep the animal on his own premises unless on a leash and under control of a competent person, allowed his dog to run loose on the street. On collision of the dog with plaintiff's motor scooter, plaintiff brought suit for injuries incurred, claiming negligence per se by defendant through violation of the ordinance. The trial court sustained defendant's demurrer. On appeal, held, reversed. The violation of the ordinance was negligence per se, since the purpose of the ordinance included the protection of people …

Testamentary Disposition To The Trustee Of An Inter Vivos Trust, George E. Palmer

Michigan Law Review

The problem of this paper is narrow but important in connection with testamentary dispositions. A man establishes an inter vivos trust, in writing, and later attempts by will to add to the corpus of the trust without repeating in the will the terms of the trust. In some instances he thereafter amends the trust with the expectation that the property bequeathed to the trustee will be held in accordance with the amended terms. This is a simple and convenient method of disposing of property at death and most people probably would take for granted that the disposition is effective. Yet …

Constitutional Law-Relation Of Federal And State Governments- Title Of United States To Tidelands, John K. Delay, Jr.

Michigan Law Review

For the past decade and a half, one of the most harrassing problems in the realm of federal-state relationships has been that concerned with the ownership of the so-called "tidelands." This struggle of interests, which involves 23,000 square miles of offshore lands within the boundaries of the littoral states, has developed since 1937; for prior to that time, the Federal Government recognized the states' claims, making no assertion of federal ownership. The development of the conflict appears to be coextensive with the discovery and development of valuable mineral deposits found under these submerged lands, which have been leased to private …

Admiralty-Conflict Of Laws-Erie R. R. Co. V. Tompkins Distinguished In Maritime Matters, Thomas Hartwell S.Ed.

Michigan Law Review

Plaintiff, a resident of Massachusetts, brought suit in the law side of the federal district court in Massachusetts for injuries sustained as a passenger aboard defendant's ship while it was docked in Sweden. Defendant, a Swedish corporation, defended on the ground that a contract stipulation as expressed on the back of plaintiff's ticket relieved it of liability. The ticket had been purchased in Sweden. The lower court, citing only American authorities, held that the. effect of the contract provision was to relieve defendant. On appeal, held, remanded. The cause of action asserted is a maritime tort; hence the substantive …

Constitutional Law - Municipal Control Of Public Streets And Parks As Affecting Freedom Of Speech And Assembly, Lenamyra Saulson

Michigan Law Review

It is the purpose of this comment to explore only one small part of the problem: the flight for freedom of speech and assembly as opposed by the municipality's police power to control its streets and parks. Three decisions handed down by the Supreme Court on January 15, 1951, will form the basis for an appraisal of the Supreme Court's present position in this area. However, the full import of these cases cannot be realized without first considering the history of the struggle and how the Court has dealt with it.

Jurisdiction In Private International Air Law Cases, H. Alberta Colclaser

Michigan Law Review

Causes of action involving nationals of different countries frequently give rise to jurisdictional problems. These problems become pronounced in cases where absence of the defendant from the jurisdiction where the cause is heard results in allegations of substantive or procedural prejudice to the defendant and in cases where the failure of the defendant to satisfy a judgment awarded against him creates a necessity for the plaintiff to take his case to another jurisdiction for execution.

Labor Law - Labor-Management Relations Act -Applicability Of Non-Communist Affidavit To Parent Federation, Robert S. Griggs

Michigan Law Review

The language of section 9(h) of Title I of the Labor Management Relations Act of 1947 conditions assertion of rights under the act by a labor organization upon its submission to the Labor Board of particularly described affidavits executed by each of its local officers and the officers of "any national or international labor organization of which it is an affiliate or constituent unit." The Board had considered the scope of the quoted phrase not to include the federation type of organization. The Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit had agreed with the Board's construction. The Fourth …