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Michigan Law Review

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Carriers-Contract Against Liability For Negligence By Telephone Company Feb 1931

Carriers-Contract Against Liability For Negligence By Telephone Company

Michigan Law Review

Plaintiff sought to recover for damages to its business resulting from the failure of defendant company to list plaintiff's main office and number and the incorrect listing of plaintiff's branch office in the 1928 telephone directory plaintiff being a subscriber to defendant's service. The contract of service contained a clause providing that defendant shall not be liable "for damages arising from errors or omissions in the making up or printing of its directory." The court held that in the absence of any showing of gross negligence or wilful misconduct; there was no liability for the omission and error. Hamilton Employment …


Cases On Pleadings And Procedure, Mason Ladd Feb 1931

Cases On Pleadings And Procedure, Mason Ladd

Michigan Law Review

A review of CASES ON PLEADINGS AND PROCEDURE By Charles E. Clark.


Some Comments On The Reserved Power To Alter, Amend And Repeal Corporate Charters, Gustavus Ohlinger Feb 1931

Some Comments On The Reserved Power To Alter, Amend And Repeal Corporate Charters, Gustavus Ohlinger

Michigan Law Review

The old theories as to the nature, creation and powers of corporations which during the last hundred years have been obscured, but today are coming more and more to the fore in legal literature, in the adjudications of the courts, and in recent revisions of corporation acts suggest a re-examination of the power of state legislatures to alter, amend and repeal corporate charters under the reservations contained in many state constitutions and statutes, both as related to those theories and as they apply to recent and impending social and economic changes.


Equity Jurisdiction As Affected By Adequacy Of The Remedy At Law Feb 1931

Equity Jurisdiction As Affected By Adequacy Of The Remedy At Law

Michigan Law Review

A Michigan case, decided December 3, 1929, presents an interesting problem concerning the status of equity jurisdiction when the relief at law is adjudged adequate. Plaintiff and defendant owned adjoining lots, and disagreed as to the location of the true boundary line between them. Plaintiff was in possession of the disputed strip. Defendant started an ejectment suit, whereupon plaintiff brought a bill in equity to enjoin defendant's suit at law and to have title decreed to be in himself. Defendant answered denying that there was any equity in the bill, and moved to dismiss. Later counsel agreed that the entire …


Trusts-Right Of Trustee To Reimbursement For Tort Liability Feb 1931

Trusts-Right Of Trustee To Reimbursement For Tort Liability

Michigan Law Review

The recent New York case, In re Lathers presents the question seldom before raised whether a trustee may be reimbursed from the trust estate for tort liability to a third person through his negligence in management of the estate. In that case, as a result of fire in an apartment building of the trust property, the trustee suffered judgments for $62,000 plus costs. The rooms of one apartment, rented by the trustee's agent, had been closed off by the lessee to form several small apartments. For the one subleased to the tort creditor, access to fire escapes, adequate normally, was …


Some Inadequacies In The Law Of Arrest, John Barker Waite Feb 1931

Some Inadequacies In The Law Of Arrest, John Barker Waite

Michigan Law Review

Suppose that a farmer whose orchard borders the highway happens on the spot in time to see a truck, with the license tag of a foreign state, conveniently parked while the driver loads it with apples which he picks from the farmer's trees. What can the farmer-owner do in respect to the situation?


Contracts-Breach Of Implied Warranty That Construction Be Usable For Purpose Intended Feb 1931

Contracts-Breach Of Implied Warranty That Construction Be Usable For Purpose Intended

Michigan Law Review

Plaintiff and defendant entered into a contract by the terms of which defendant was to assign to plaintiff an equity in a land contract to purchase a lot. The plaintiff was to complete the payments and sell to the defendant on a land contract this same lot with a house and garage to be erected by the plaintiff, an experienced builder, according to plans and specifications to be drawn by the latter. The defendant was to be given credit for the amount he had previously paid on the lot, and the price was further reduced by the defendant doing the …


Injunction-Breach Of Negative Covenant-Adequate Remedy At Law Feb 1931

Injunction-Breach Of Negative Covenant-Adequate Remedy At Law

Michigan Law Review

The defendant, an owner of a gasoline station, entered into a contract with the plaintiff whereby he agreed to buy "all motor fuels handled, sold, or required" at his station from the plaintiff. He further agreed not to "sell, or allow to be sold on his premises * * * any other brands of motor fuel than those of the seller [plaintiff]." Before the expiration of the contract the defendant notified the plaintiff that he would no longer be bound by the contract. The lower court dismissed a bill praying for an injunction restraining the defendant from violating the negative …


Conflict Of Laws Treatment Of Interpretation And Construction Of Deeds In Reference To Covenants, Raymond J. Hellman Jan 1931

Conflict Of Laws Treatment Of Interpretation And Construction Of Deeds In Reference To Covenants, Raymond J. Hellman

Michigan Law Review

It is submitted that the terms "interpretation" and "construction" and the verbs "interpret" and "construe" should be used with distinct significations. There are two types of problems with reference to which these terms are used, often ambiguously and unclearly. In one type of problem a question is presented and sought to be answered as to what someone actually or apparently intended. There is an effort to reach a result which was actually desired even though the data tending to show this may be of limited utility. In the other type of problem it is recognized or realized either that there …


Changing Factors Of Reasonable Rates, Clarence M. Updegraff Jan 1931

Changing Factors Of Reasonable Rates, Clarence M. Updegraff

Michigan Law Review

In this period of financial difficulties there arise many old familiar problems. Some are inherent in times of "tight" money; some perhaps may be solved once and for all; others may possibly be met in such a way that certain of their had features will be permanently modified. In this last class seem to lie certain problems of public utility financing.


Carriers - Liability For Goods Lost By Express Company While Performing Service Contrary To The Filed Tariff Jan 1931

Carriers - Liability For Goods Lost By Express Company While Performing Service Contrary To The Filed Tariff

Michigan Law Review

The filed tariff of the defendant express company provided that packages containing money would be received only when delivered at the office of the express company. It was the custom of the defendant. contrary to the tariff provisions, to send a special truck to the office of the shippers when notified that money was to be transported. A shipment oi the plaintiff was thus called for, and the money lost when the truck was held up on the way to the express office. Defendant contended that the service was in violation of the tariff, and that no recovery could be …


Quasi-Contracts -- Recovery For Legal Services Rendered Under Champertous Contract Jan 1931

Quasi-Contracts -- Recovery For Legal Services Rendered Under Champertous Contract

Michigan Law Review

Plaintiff agreed to render legal services to defendant in an action to recover a farm, payment to be either $5,000 in cash or one-third of the appraised value of the farm at the time of a judgment in defendant's favor. The defendant recovered, but refused to pay the plaintiffs anything on the ground that the contract was in violation of a Maine statute forbidding prosecution of a suit on shares. Plaintiff sued in assumpsit for the value of services rendered and expenses incurred. Held, the contract was illegal and so no relief of any nature would be granted. Hinckley …


Jurisdiction For The Purpose Of Imposing Inheritance Taxes, David R. Mason Jan 1931

Jurisdiction For The Purpose Of Imposing Inheritance Taxes, David R. Mason

Michigan Law Review

For nearly half a century so-called inheritance tax laws of the states of the United States have been predicated upon two distinct theories of jurisdiction, many states embodying both theories into their statutes. Recent decisions rendered by the Supreme Court of the United States, however, challenge the constitutionality of such a scheme and indicate the expediency of a review of the extent of state jurisdiction for the purpose of imposing such taxes.


Mortgages-Foreclosure-Default In Interest Jan 1931

Mortgages-Foreclosure-Default In Interest

Michigan Law Review

Plaintiff was a mortgagee of certain real property. A clause in the mortgage provided that the whole amount should become due after default for twenty days in the payment of any installment of interest. Through an arithmetical error of its clerk, the defendant corporation, owner of the equity of redemption, paid $401.87 less than the amount of interest due on one installment. The total interest due was $4621.56. The clerk discovered the error and notified the mortgagee that it would be corrected as soon as the president of the corporation, who alone was authorized to sign checks, returned from Europe. …


Municipal Corporations-Billboards-Prohibition Near Parks And Boulevards Jan 1931

Municipal Corporations-Billboards-Prohibition Near Parks And Boulevards

Michigan Law Review

The defendant acting under statutory authority passed an ordinance prohibiting billboards within five hundred feet of any park or boulevard. Held, the ordinance was valid but unenforceable as to existing billboards except upon the payment of compensation. General Outdoor Advertising Co. v. City of Indianapolis (Ind. 1930) 172 N.E. 309.


Reformation Of Instruments-Mistake Of Facts Underlying Intention Jan 1931

Reformation Of Instruments-Mistake Of Facts Underlying Intention

Michigan Law Review

A debtor determined to mortgage all his property for the benefit of several creditors. His son, commissioned to draw the instrument, was informed that a note to the plaintiff, indorsed by the debtor, would be taken care of by the party primarily liable. So he intentionally omitted the plaintiff's note from the mortgage executed to the other creditors. The note was never paid. After foreclosure of the mortgage, leaving no surplus, the plaintiff sought reformation of the mortgage so as to be included as mortgagee, claiming that the debtor's intention to secure all bank creditors was not executed through mistake …


Taxation-Jurisdiction To Tax Intangibles-Business Situs Jan 1931

Taxation-Jurisdiction To Tax Intangibles-Business Situs

Michigan Law Review

Decedent died domiciled in Illinois, owning the majority of stock in a South Carolina corporation, and a chose in action for a large sum owed him by the corporation, partly on open account, and partly for dividends declared but unpaid. The executors objected to the inclusion of the chose in an assessment under the South Carolina inheritance tax law, but the South Carolina court refused relief, basing jurisdiction to tax the transfer of the indebtedness, in part, on the ground that this property had acquired a business situs in South Carolina. On certiorari, this decision was reversed by the United …


Constitutional Law-Due Process-Statutory Interpretation As Judicial Legislation Dec 1930

Constitutional Law-Due Process-Statutory Interpretation As Judicial Legislation

Michigan Law Review

Plaintiff brought suit in Missouri to enjoin collection of taxes alleged to be discriminatory, basing his claim for equitable relief on the absence of any other remedy. The supreme court of Missouri dismissed the bill, without hearing on the substantive question, on the ground that there existed, under a state statute, an adequate remedy in appeal to the state tax commission. Previously the court had denied, in several cases, that the statute gave such a right, and had allowed equitable relief in one case on that ground. When the decision in the principal case was rendered, it was too late …


Crimes-Reasonable Doubt-Necessity Of Defining-Definition Dec 1930

Crimes-Reasonable Doubt-Necessity Of Defining-Definition

Michigan Law Review

In a criminal case, the defendant requested an instruction defining the term "reasonable doubt." The court refused the request and the defendant excepted. Held, the instruction should have been given. State v. Vukich (Wash. 1930) 290 Pac. 992.


Claims Against The Creditor As Defenses To The Surety, H. W. Arant Dec 1930

Claims Against The Creditor As Defenses To The Surety, H. W. Arant

Michigan Law Review

In the absence of statutory provision, where the surety is sued alone, the generally accepted view is that he can not show the existence of a claim in favor of his principal against the creditor for the purpose of preventing or decreasing the creditor's recovery against him. The view has frequently been applied where the surety, sued alone, sought to set up the creditor's breach of warranty as a defense. It recognizes that such a breach of warranty gives rise to a cause of action against the creditor that belongs solely to the principal debtor. It also recognizes the possibility …


Divorce - Recrimination As A Defense Dec 1930

Divorce - Recrimination As A Defense

Michigan Law Review

If both parties have a right to divorce, neither party has. This judicial pronouncement, paradoxical and puzzling as it must seem, at least to the lay mind, nevertheless embodies the kernel of the doctrine of recrimination as it is applied in divorce cases by modem courts. One party seeks divorce and proves beyond doubt that he or she is entitled to relief. But, if it is found that the complaining party too, is guilty of conduct for which a divorce may be granted, the court turns a deaf ear to both. For, in the oft quoted words of Chancellor Wallworth, …


Corporations-Dissolution-Distribution Of Assets Between Preferred And Common Stockholders Dec 1930

Corporations-Dissolution-Distribution Of Assets Between Preferred And Common Stockholders

Michigan Law Review

The Commonwealth Hotel Construction Co. became insolvent, and, after the creditors had been paid in full, the preferred and common stockholders disagreed to the distribution of the remaining assets. The articles of incorporation provided that the holders of preferred stock should be entitled to dividends at the rate of seven per centum per annum which should be cumulative "so that, if dividends for any past dividend period at the rate of seven per centum per annum shall not have been paid thereon or set apart therefor, the deficiency shall be fully paid or set apart, but without interest, before any …


Libel - Plaintlff's Portrait-Story Concerning Another Dec 1930

Libel - Plaintlff's Portrait-Story Concerning Another

Michigan Law Review

Defendant published in a newspaper the picture of the plaintiff, Alta Woolf, under the headline, "Sued for Balm," and above a caption to the effect that "Mrs. Ruth Felgenauer (above) 11002 Nelson Ave." had been made defendant in an alienation suit. To the plaintiff's libel action, defendant demurred. Held, the trial court was correct in sustaining the demurrer because, in its entirety, the publication was not calculated to lead third persons to believe that it referred to plaintiff. Woolf v. Scripps Pub. Co. (Ohio, Ct. App. 1930) 172 N.E. 389.


Marriage-Validity Of Marriage Terminable At Will Of The Parties Under Soviet Law Dec 1930

Marriage-Validity Of Marriage Terminable At Will Of The Parties Under Soviet Law

Michigan Law Review

Petitioner married the respondent in Moscow, in 1924, the parties being the domiciled in the Soviet Union. By Soviet law a divorce could be secured upon the registration of both parties of their desire to terminate the marriage, or upon the application of one of them to a court which had no discretion but to dissolve the union. The petitioner filed a bill for separation in England, and an issue was directed in the lower court to determine whether the parties had ever been husband and wife. The court held the marriage invalid, but on appeal it was held the …


Quasi-Contracts--Duress--Economic Pressure-Adequacy Of Legal Remedies Dec 1930

Quasi-Contracts--Duress--Economic Pressure-Adequacy Of Legal Remedies

Michigan Law Review

The plaintiff deposited funds with the defendant, a stock-broker, as security for his margin account. The defendant without authority sold short on the plaintiff's account a large number of shares of stock and threatened to use the plaintiff's deposits to cover the sale unless the plaintiff would authorize a purchase for that purpose. The plaintiff under protest authorized the defendant to purchase the stock, which in the meanwhile had increased in value. The plaintiff then brought suit to recover the difference between the sale and the re-purchase prices plus the defendant's commissions and transfer taxes. Held, on demurrer that …


Quasi-Contracts--Duress--Tort Action For Dec 1930

Quasi-Contracts--Duress--Tort Action For

Michigan Law Review

The court in the instant case implied by way of dictum that the plaintiff could have recovered if duress had existed. Perhaps as to the commissions sufficient benefit was conferred upon the defendant to form the basis of quasicontractual liability. WOODWARD, LAW OF QUASI-CONTRACTS, sec. 211; Astley v. Reynolds, 2 Strange 915; Darling-Singer Lumber Co. v. Oriental Navigation Co., 127 Or. 655, 272 Pac. 275.


Wills-Loose Sheets As A Will Dec 1930

Wills-Loose Sheets As A Will

Michigan Law Review

Testatrix's will contained twenty-eight sheets of correspondence paper, each complete in itself and not physically bound together. When presented for probate, the last sheet held only an attestation clause and the signatures of testatrix and witnesses; each of the others was, signed by testatrix; and the whole group were consecutively numbered. The attesting witnesses, employed at the bank with which testatrix did business, identified the writing on all twenty-eight sheets as that of testatrix, but could not say that these very sheets were present when the last was executed. They testified there was a bundle of similar sheets, and one …


Corporations - Directors - Power Of Shareholders To Fill Vacancies Nov 1930

Corporations - Directors - Power Of Shareholders To Fill Vacancies

Michigan Law Review

One of a directorate of three having resigned in the middle of his term, a special stockholders' meeting was called to fill the vacancy, and defendant was elected to finish the term. The relator, a stockholder and director, brought a writ of quo warranto to oust the defendant on the ground that the Corporation Act (ch. 32, sec. 21, par. 5, Ill. Rev. Stat. Cahill, 1929) provided that "the directors shall fill all vacancies which may happen in the board * * * by death, resignation, or otherwise, until the next annual meeting of the stockholders," and that therefore the …


Garnishment-Foreign-Double Liability Nov 1930

Garnishment-Foreign-Double Liability

Michigan Law Review

Plaintiff, a resident of New York, obtained a judgment in Connecticut against El Saieh, a resident of Haiti, the court in that action obtaining jurisdiction by garnishment of a debt owed El Saieh by defendant, a Connecticut corporation, which was served with garnishment process, and admitted an obligation to El Saieh based on a policy of fire insurance issued through its agency in Haiti on a stock of goods located there. Plaintiff then sought to enforce the judgment against the defendant garnishee, which set up a defense of double liability, contending that under the laws of Haiti it was absolutely …


Trusts-Apportionment Of Extraordinary Dividend From Sale Of Property By Realty Company Between Life Tenant And Remainderman Nov 1930

Trusts-Apportionment Of Extraordinary Dividend From Sale Of Property By Realty Company Between Life Tenant And Remainderman

Michigan Law Review

After death of the testator, leaving his wife shares in a realty company as part of the residue of his estate in trust to receive the rents, profits, and income of the same for her natural life, the company sold the greater portion of its property and declared a cash dividend of 100 per cent. Held, that it belonged to the remainderman and not the life beneficiary. In re Jackson's Will, 239 N. Y. S. 362.