Digital Commons Network^™

Constitutional Law-Corporations-Artificial "Persons" And The Fourteenth Amendment, Robert P. Griffin S.Ed.

Michigan Law Review

That a corporation is a "person" for certain purposes within the meaning of the Fourteenth Amendment, and therefore entitled to invoke its protection, is considered by students of constitutional law to be well settled. For that reason the dissent of Justice Douglas in the recent case of Wheeling Steel Corporation v. Glander demands more than passing recognition. Therein he restates and adds his support to the view of Justice Black that the word "person" as used in the Fourteenth Amendment refers exclusively to human beings and affords no protection whatsoever to corporations against arbitrary state action.

Constitutional Law-Federal Courts-Diversity Jurisdiction- District Of Columbia Citizens, John D. Mcleod S.Ed.

Michigan Law Review

The Act of Congress of April 20, 1940, provided that district courts should exercise original jurisdiction over actions "between citizens of different States, or citizens of the District of Columbia, the Territory of Hawaii, or Alaska, and any State or Territory . . . . " The committee report and the title indicate the purpose to extend to citizens of the District of Columbia and the territories the right to sue in federal district courts on grounds solely of diversity of citizenship. Although the committee reports indicated no constitutional difficulties, the majority of the lower federal courts which considered the …

Eliminating The Battle Of Experts In Criminal Insanity Cases, Henry Weihofen

Michigan Law Review

It is the purpose of this article to discuss certain procedural devices which have been adopted in some jurisdictions, designed to eliminate the ''battle of experts" which still disgraces criminal procedure in most of our states, and to replace it with a more impartial, more scientific, type of investigation.

Bills And Notes--Indorsement "For Deposit Only"--Effect On Negotiability, Stephen A. Bryant S.Ed.

Michigan Law Review

Defendant, in payment for goods purchased, drew two checks payable to W which W indorsed "pay to order of plaintiff bank for deposit only" and deposited with plaintiff. Plaintiff credited W's account with the amount of the checks, which sum was immediately withdrawn. Defendant then stopped payment of the checks as W failed to deliver the goods purchased; and, since W was bankrupt, plaintiff sought to recover the amount of the checks from defendant. Defendant sought to assert a defense which was good against W, on the theory that plaintiff, as restrictive indorsee, was merely a trustee for …

Labor Law-Veteran's Reemployment Rights-Duration Of Seniority Beyond One Year Period, Donald D. Davis S.Ed.

Michigan Law Review

At the time of his induction into the Armed Forces, plaintiff was employed as a locomotive machinist at defendant's Loyall shop. This shop was transferred to Corbin during his absence, and, upon discharge from military service, plaintiff was reemployed there with seniority from July 17, 1946, the date of his return. In April, 1947, plaintiff filed his complaint under section 8, Selective Training and Service Act, alleging that had he not been in the Armed Forces he would have been transferred to the Corbin shop with seniority from July 1, 1945. The collective bargaining agent of the machinist employees of …

Mr. Justice Murphy And Civil Rights, Thurgood Marshall

Michigan Law Review

There is constant danger that the unpopularity of an individual, or of the group of which he is a member, will be reflected in dealings with his rights by his neighbors or by the organized community. In America today this bias is most likely to stern from differences of race, origin, nationality, or religious or political belief. Prejudice may victimize an entire group or any of its members. Any charge of shocking or anti-social conduct against one who is already thus unpopular increases the likelihood of unfair treatment. Not only private citizens, but legislators, judges and administrative officers of government …

The Rule Of Clear And Present Danger: Scope Of Its Applicability, Chester James Antieau

Michigan Law Review

The rule of clear and present danger originated in 1919 in an attempt by Mr. Justice Holmes to formulate a principle for the limitation of liberty with a conscious, intelligent weighing of the opposed societal interests. In the Schenck case, the societal and individual interest in freedom of expression clashed with the societal interest in defense of the state. In conflicts of this kind the criterion has had its most frequent application. The societal interest in preservation of the state was adequately protected by application of the test in prosecutions arising under the Espionage Act of 1917, although Mr. Justice …

The Influence Of Mr. Justice Murphy On Labor Law, Archibald Cox

Michigan Law Review

When Mr. Justice Murphy took his place on the Supreme Court in 1940, a period of major development in labor law was beginning. In 1935 Congress had laid one of the two principal foundation stones by enacting the Wagner Act. But the NLRA did not become effective in any practical sense until after its constitutionality was upheld in 1937, and it was in the next decade that the farthest reaching questions of interpretation and application were to be decided. The second stone was laid in 1938 when passage of the Fair Labor Standards Act committed the nation to the policy …

Changing The Beneficiary Of A Life Insurance Contract, Grover C. Grismore

Michigan Law Review

A cursory examination of the court reports will reveal that there is a constant stream of cases coming before our courts in which the principal questions at issue involve the disposition of the proceeds of matured life insurance policies. The question arises most often when the insured, having reserved the right to change the beneficiary, had manifested an intention that someone other than the beneficiary named in the policy should receive the proceeds, but had not complied with the formalities prescribed in his contract for effecting a change. Unfortunately, the answer to the question in the particular case has often …

The Proposed New Uniform Sales Act, John Barker Waite

Michigan Law Review

A complete Uniform Commercial Code has been formulated by committees acting under joint auspices of the American Law Institute and the National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws. While the Code is apparently not yet ready for presentation to state legislatures for enactment, it has been offered to the public for discussion of its merits. Its scope is comprehensive. As now tentatively proposed, it comprises presumably complete statutes covering Sales, Commercial Paper, Letters of Credit, Foreign Banking, Documents of Title, Secured Transactions, Investment Securities. If adopted it would displace the present Uniform Sales Act, the Uniform Negotiable Instruments Act, …

Corporations-Dividend Rights-Elimination Of Dividend Accumulations By Direct Charter Amendment, Thomas L. Waterbury S.Ed.

Michigan Law Review

The many recent discussions of the problem of dividend accumulations show that plausible grounds exist for reaching a conclusion in favor of either the minority preferred shareholder who wishes to retain these rights, or the majority preferred and common shareholders who, with the corporate management, desire to eliminate or circumvent them. It is not the purpose of this comment to re-open that controversy, though it may be observed that the current trend of both legislation and decision favors the interests of the latter group. Rather, this discussion assumes that the current trend is the correct view and will examine the …

Taxation-Technical Changes Act Of 1949-"Possession Or Enjoyment" Clause Of I.R.C. 811 ( C), Paul A. Anderson S.Ed., Stephen A. Bryant S. Ed.

Michigan Law Review

For the past decade Congress has been urged to define specifically the scope of I.R.C. 811(c), which subjects to the estate tax an inter vivas transfer intended to take effect in possession or enjoyment at or after the donor's death. Until 1949 proposed amendments were largely directed at legislative rejection of the doctrine of Helvering v. Hallock, but with the decisions in the Church and Spiegel cases last year, it became apparent that more extensive revision and clarification was needed. Sections 7 and 8 of the Technical Changes Act of 1949, which became law on October 25, 1949, represent …

Origin And Development Of The Directed Verdict, William Wirt Blume

Michigan Law Review

Recent decisions of the Supreme Court of the United States have aroused a new interest in the familiar motion for a directed verdict. In this discussion the writer will undertake a brief examination of the antecedents of the motion, and then will trace its short but significant history.

Constitutional Law-Congressional Committees-Quorum, G. B. Myers S.Ed.

Michigan Law Review

Petitioner, having testified falsely before a committee of the House of Representatives, was convicted of perjury. On trial, petitioner contested the competency of the committee, maintaining that a quorum must actually be present when the testimony is given. Evidence was offered tending to show that though there was a record quorum at the beginning of the meeting in question, this quorum was not maintained at the time petitioner testified. The trial court agreed that presence of a quorum was essential, but charged, in effect, that this requirement is satisfied by a showing of a record quorum at the outset together …

Negligence-Last Clear Chance-Plaintiff's Ignorance Of Danger When He Is Not Ignorant Of The Instrumentality Which Causes His Injury, John Yates

Michigan Law Review

Plaintiff, a boy twelve years of age, was struck by a locomotive of defendant railroad and suffered severe injuries. Defendant engineer, who had noticed plaintiff walking toward the track, could have stopped the train when he first observed plaintiff but did not because he had seen plaintiff look over his shoulder at the approaching train. The train could not be stopped after plaintiff had stepped onto the track. Plaintiff admitted seeing the train when it was 400 feet distant and that he had miscalculated the time necessary to cross in front of it. On appeal from judgment against both defendants, …

Process-Misnomer In Summons-Amendment, R. Lawrence Storms S.Ed.

Michigan Law Review

Plaintiff intended to sue James Brago, but by mistake used the name "Joseph Brago" in the complaint and summons. Joseph happened to be the name of intended defendant's brother. Copies of process were left with James' wife, but as sister-in-law of Joseph who resided elsewhere. When plaintiff realized the error, the statute of limitations prevented his bringing a new suit. Plaintiff's motion to amend the summons and complaint was granted. On appeal, held, order reversed so far as it purports to amend the summons. Patrick v. Brago, 4 N.J. Super. 226, 66 A. (2d) 749 (1949).

The Privy Council And Private Law In The Tudor And Stuart Period: Ii, John P. Dawson

Michigan Law Review

In a previous instalment an attempt was made to describe the main subjects of private litigation dealt with by the English Privy Council under the Tudors and early Stuarts. It was suggested that the subjects were most heterogeneous and that the total volume of such litigation was large. In the present instalment will be discussed, first, the methods used to reduce the volume of private litigation by direct and indirect means; then the powers of coercion possessed by the Privy Council; and finally, its relations to the ordinary courts.

Conflict Of Laws-Validity Of A Contract-Application Of Renvoi, R. Lawrence Storms S.Ed.

Michigan Law Review

Plaintiff (British actor, James Mason) and defendant signed an agreement in England contemplating the formation of an American company for producing motion pictures. Plaintiff was to give his exclusive services to the company, and defendant was to make all financial arrangements and generally to manage the company. A dispute arose as to the legal effect of the agreement. Plaintiff won a judgment that the agreement was not a valid contract because of its indefiniteness as to essential terms. On appeal, held, affirmed. Mason v. Rose, (2d Cir. 1949) 176 F. (2d) 486.

Pleading And Practice-Failure To Answer Request For Admission Of Facts As Basis For Judgment On The Pleadings-Form Of Request For Admission Of Facts, Robert H. Frick

Michigan Law Review

Plaintiff filed a complaint for money owing for goods sold and delivered. Defendant filed a cross-complaint. Plaintiff filed an affirmative reply setting forth defenses to the cross-complaint, and three days later served defendant with a request that he "admit each and every allegation and averment contained in paragraphs I, II, III and IV of the plaintiff's affirmative reply to the cross-complaint of the defendants herein is true.'' Defendant failed to answer the request. Washington Rule of Practice 21 provides that such failure shall be deemed an admission of the facts submitted. The trial court granted plaintiff's motion for judgment on …

Alternative Pleading: I, Roy W. Mcdonald

Michigan Law Review

The present series of articles seeks to test the extent to which the dictates of this common professional experience have influenced the statutes, rules, and precedents which govern our civil practice. As a background for a review of procedures typical of the code and federal practice within the United States, it will be useful initially to consider briefly the English practice during the past century and a half. The English procedures, as they existed at the end of the eighteenth century, though everywhere locally modified and simplified in some respects, formed authoritative guides for the practices of most of the …

Negligence-Application Of The Rescue Doctrine Where Personal Property Is Involved, Thomas Hartwell

Michigan Law Review

The defendant's servant, while parking the defendant's automobile, negligently failed to secure the brakes. At defendant's request, plaintiff police officer attempted to enter the automobile after it had started to roll, hoping to avert any possible collision. In so doing, he slipped on a stone and was injured. Defendant demurred to plaintiff's complaint on the grounds that the plaintiff was contributorily negligent, as a matter of law, and that the rescue doctrine should not apply where that rescued from peril created by the defendant is not human life or the rescuer's own property. Held, the rescue doctrine was correctly …

Accrual Problems In Tax Accounting, Alfred E. Holland

Michigan Law Review

Quite frequently at the end of a taxable year some uncertainty qualifies the eventual payment or receipt of an obligation. An obligor may refuse to pay the debt for any number of reasons. There may be disagreement as to the amount which is due; the obligation may not appear collectible; or there may be some other contingency which makes eventual receipt or payment appear uncertain at the time. This uncertainty presents a problem to the taxpayer when he closes his books at the end of the year. Should such an uncertain item be entered on the books as income for …

Place Of Trial Of Civil Cases, William Wirt Blume

Michigan Law Review

Places involved in a study of place of trial may be classified in various ways. The most general classification is: (1) Places within one sovereignty, (2) Places in different sovereignties. Where there is choice of place within one sovereignty, the only rational basis for making the choice is convenience-convenience of the parties, jurors, witnesses, and of the court itself. The same is true when the choice is between courts of different sovereignties, but without cooperation between the sovereignties rational choice may not be possible. The purpose of this discussion is to compare choice of place in England before 1800 with …

Administrative Terminology And The Administrative Procedure Act, Bernard Schwartz

Michigan Law Review

The confusion of terminology in our administrative law is a natural result of the manner in which that branch of law has developed. "The use of terms in administrative law exemplifies its most characteristic element-that it did not spring from a single source but has its roots in many places." The administrative process has not evolved according to a fixed plan; "thus far our Administrative Law has largely 'growed' like Topsy." With the haphazard habit characteristic of our political life, individual administrative agencies have been created as and when the need for them arose, without any logical system. The form …

Negligence-Taking The Issue Of Negligence From The Jury In Public Utility Cases, Charles D. Bell S.Ed.

Michigan Law Review

After boarding a trolley owned and operated by defendant, plaintiff-dropped her return slip. Holding a package in one hand, she stooped to pick up the slip. Plaintiff testified that although defendant's operator saw her in this position, he started the trolley with a "very fast jerk" which threw plaintiff to the floor and caused certain injuries. At the conclusion of plaintiff's evidence, which consisted of her uncorroborated testimony, the trial court directed a verdict for defendant. On appeal, held, affirmed. Przborowski v. Baltimore Transit Co., (Md. 1948) 59 A. (2d) 687.

Streamlining Conveyancing Procedure, Paul E. Basye

Michigan Law Review

Statutes of limitations have long occupied an essential and important place in every system of jurisprudence. They express a policy that is essential to social progress in a great variety of ways. Their effect is particularly noteworthy in the field of property law where they promote repose and give security to human affairs. "They stimulate to activity and punish negligence. While time is constantly destroying the evidence of rights, they supply its place by a presumption which renders proof unnecessary."

Bankruptcy-Status Of Claims In Bankruptcy Proceeding Following Default In Chapter Xi Arrangement, Myron J. Nadler S.Ed., L. B. Lea S.Ed

Michigan Law Review

A significant question arising under the Bankruptcy Act of 1938 which has not been satisfactorily dealt with by the statute is the relative status, in a bankruptcy proceeding precipitated by the debtor's default under the terms of a chapter XI arrangement, of claims of creditors participating in the arrangement and of those who became creditors after confirmation. Specifically, the problem is whether the old creditors, those who participated in the arrangement, can prove to the amount of their original claims, or merely to the extent of their claims as scaled down by the terms of the arrangement; and whether the …

Labor Law-Relationship Of Federal And State Authority Over Labor Relations, Ralph E. Hunt S.Ed.

Michigan Law Review

In three recent cases, the United States Supreme Court has been required to determine the impact of federal labor relations legislation on certain state enactments in this area. The importance of these decisions, concerning a problem which has caused difficulty since enactment of the National Labor Relations Act in 1935, is increased by their consideration of the significance of the amendments contained in the Labor-Management Relations Act of 1947.

(1.) The appellant La Crosse Co., which handled interstate telephone calls, had made a collective bargaining agreement with appellant A. F. of L. union, to continue from year to year. During …

Constitutional Law-Due Process-Punishment For Direct Contempt Of Court, William R. Worth

Michigan Law Review

Opposing counsel's objection to material in petitioner's opening statement to the jury was sustained. When petitioner rephrased his statement, the trial court, feeling that he was still trying to get inadmissible material before the jury, threatened to "declare a mistrial if you mess with me two minutes and a half, and fine you besides.'' Petitioner took an exception to the conduct of the court, and was immediately fined $25. His protests led to successive increases in penalty, culminating in a $100 fine and three days in jail. The Supreme Court of Texas denied habeas corpus on the ground that the …

Contracts - Municipal Corporations - Revocability Of Offer Submitted Under Statutory Competitive Bidding, Richard H. Conn

Michigan Law Review

In accordance with statutory provisions, the city commissioners of Atlantic City advertised for bids for certain public improvements. Plaintiff submitted a sealed bid accompanied by a deposit of $5,000, as required by the advertisement, to guarantee execution of the contract if it were the successful bidder. When the bids were opened, plaintiff was the lowest bidder by a considerable margin. Investigation disclosed that an appreciable error had been made in the calculation of its bid, however, and before any official action had been taken, plaintiff advised the city commission of the mistake and withdrew the bid. Nevertheless, the contract was …