Digital Commons Network^™

Federal Procedure - Jurisdiction - Statutory Change In Jurisdictional Amount And Corporate Citizenship, Philip Belleville

Michigan Law Review

A recent congressional amendment of federal district court jurisdictional requirements for both diversity of citizenship and federal question litigation has raised the required amount in controversy from $3,000 to $10,000. The trial court has also been given discretion either to deny costs or assess them against the plaintiff if he is finally adjudged entitled to recover less than $10,000, determined without regard to any set-off or counterclaim and exclusive of interest and costs. Further, for purposes of diversity jurisdiction and removal, a corporation is now deemed a citizen "of any State by which it has been incorporated and of the …

Labor Law - Evidence- Production Of Pre-Trial Statements For Purpose Of Cross-Examination In Nlrb Proceeding, Bruce L. Bower

Michigan Law Review

Respondent was accused of unfair labor practices. At the hearing before the trial examiner, respondent requested pre-trial statements of the general counsel's witnesses who testified, for the purpose of impeaching their credibility on cross-examination. The trial examiner's refusal was upheld by the NLRB. Upon motion to reopen the record, held, the record is reopened and further proceedings are to be held before the trial examiner. The holding of Jencks v. United States applies to NLRB proceedings; hence respondent has the right for cross-examination purposes to production of pre-trial statements made by the general counsel's witnesses which directly relate to …

Patents - Standard Of Invention - Effects Of Sections 103 And 282 Of Patent Act Of 1952, John F. Powell S.Ed.

Michigan Law Review

Defendant counterclaimed for patent infringement in a declaratory judgment action. The trial court, holding the patent invalid for lack of "invention," dismissed the counterclaim. On appeal, held, reversed. The patent in question was valid, this conclusion being based on an independent study of the pertinent prior art and on the additional factors of industry acquiescence, commercial success, and the statutory presumption of validity of a duly issued patent. Georgia-Pacific Corp. v. United States Plywood Corp., (2d Cir. 1958) 258 F. (2d) 124, cert. den. 27 U.S. LAW WEEK 3147 (1958).

Municipal Corporations - Zoning - Disqualification Of Councilman For Personal Interest, Joel N. Simon

Michigan Law Review

An amendatory zoning ordinance was enacted by the city council of Miami Beach for the purpose of changing the zoning of an extensive area fronting on the Atlantic Ocean from a private residential to a hotel district. The amendment received the required affirmative votes of five of the seven members of the council, including the vote of one councilman who owned land in the area affected by the amendment which would be increased in value by $500,000 because of the zoning change. Plaintiffs, owners of near-by property, filed suit in the circuit court to have the amendatory ordinance declared invalid …

Choka: An Introduction To Securities Regulation, Laylin K. James

Michigan Law Review

A Review of An Introduction to Securities Regulation. By Allen D. Choka

Brewster, Jr.: Antitrust And American Business Abroad, And Fugate: Foreign Commerce And The Antitrust Laws, Kenneth S. Carlston

Michigan Law Review

A Review of Antitrust and American Business Abroad. By Kingman Brewster, Jr., and Foreign Commerce and the Antitrust Laws. By Wilbur L. Fugate.

Trusts - Spendthrift Trusts - Deviation From Trust Terms On The Basis Of Unforeseen Emotional Emergencies, Robert J. Paley

Michigan Law Review

Plaintiff and her son were the principal beneficiaries of a testamentary spendthrift trust which had been created by plaintiff's husband. The son, Montgomery Ward Thorne, was found dead under unusual circumstances. His will left a portion of his interest in the trust to his fiancée and her mother. A contest over the son's will developed between plaintiff and the designated beneficiaries in the will which caused intense bitterness between the parties. A compromise agreement was entered into, and plaintiff brought suit to obtain (1) court approval of the will contest settlement and (2) a direction to defendant trustee to invade …

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.

Recent Books, Michigan Law Review

Michigan Law Review

A List of Books Received by Michigan Law Review

The Michigan Supreme Court - An Analysis Of Recent Decisions, Frederic F. Brace Jr., James A. Park

Michigan Law Review

It is the purpose of this comment to attempt to determine and evaluate just what the court's role has been. Attention will be directed to selected areas of non-statutory and statutory law, with specific emphasis placed upon the areas of contributory negligence and workmen's compensation.

Labor Law - Hot Cargo Clauses No Defense To Secondary Boycotts, Joel D. Tauber S.Ed.

Michigan Law Review

In August 1954 the Sand Door & Plywood Company sold a general contractor, through a millwork contractor, certain non-union-made Paine Lumber Company doors. The union notified its members at the construction site that the doors should not be hung because of the "hot cargo" · clause in their union contract. After negotiations between Sand Door and the union failed, Sand Door filed charges alleging secondary boycott action by the union in violation of section 8(b)(4)(A) of ·the amended National Labor Relations Act. A Board order was issued and enforced by the court of appeals. On certiorari to the United States …

Front Matter, Michigan Law Review

Michigan Law Review

Front Matter for Volume 57, Issue 2 of Michigan Law Review

Criminal Procedure On The American Frontier: A Study Of The Statutes And Court Records Of Michigan Territory 1805-1825, William Wirt Blume

Michigan Law Review

The area north and east of Lake Michigan, organized in 1805 as Michigan Territory, was first organized in 1796 as Wayne County of the Northwest Territory. In 1800 the western half of the county, and in 1803 the eastern half, became parts of Indiana Territory, and so remained until July 1805. In 1818 Michigan Territory was expanded westward so as to include all of the area north of Illinois to the Mississippi River.

Civil Procedure - Jurisdiction - Service Of Process On Foreign Television Corporation, Arnold Henson S.Ed.

Michigan Law Review

Defendant, a West Virginia corporation, operated a television station in Huntington, West Virginia. Its telecasts regularly reached into Boyd County, Kentucky, where part of its customary viewing audience was located. During a twelve-month period in 1954-1955 the corporation derived $71,310.30 in advertising revenue from Kentucky firms, although the contracts for this advertising were made outside Kentucky. In the course of a newscast defendant published an alleged libel against plaintiff, and suit was brought in Boyd County Court. Substituted service of process was made on the Secretary of State in accordance with the Kentucky "doing business" statute, and defendant then removed …

Constitutional Law - Right To Jury Trial In Indirect Criminal Contempts In Federal Courts, Denis T. Rice S.Ed.

Michigan Law Review

Should constitutional provisions for jury trial apply to contempts committed outside the physical presence of a federal court? The United States Supreme Court, in the recent case of Green v. United States, reviewed this long disputed question. The case involved two Communist Party leaders who had been convicted of Smith Act violations and then had "jumped bail" when they disappeared in violation of surrender orders requiring their presence in court for sentencing. After four and a half years as fugitives they surrendered in 1956 and were charged with criminal contempt of court. Following a so-called "summary" hearing (without the …

Personal Property - Gifts - Delivery To Third Party, Thomas A. Dieterich S.Ed.

Michigan Law Review

A husband changed the beneficiary of his life insurance policy from his wife to his mother during a temporary separation and failed to restore his wife as beneficiary after reconciliation. Subsequent to his death the mother, in the presence· of the wife, signed a memorandum "waiving" her policy rights "to" the wife and handed the writing to the insurer's district manager. Before payment of the proceeds the mother discovered that the wife was the beneficiary of another policy and attempted to revoke the memorandum. In insurer's interpleader action, a gift to the wife was recognized. On appeal, held, affirmed. …

"Overruling" Opinions In The Supreme Court, Albert P. Blaustein, Andrew H. Field

Michigan Law Review

Despite its vaunted reputation for rectitude, the United States Supreme Court has been the first to deny its own judicial infallibility. For in at least ninety decisions, dating as far back as 1810 and as recent as its 1956 Term, the Supreme Court has made public confession of error by overruling its previous determinations.

This is a study of those ninety decisions-a statistical accounting of overruling cases and cases overruled, and a listing of the judges who agreed and disagreed with what was said and done. And this is a study of the "right to be wrong" -an inquiry into …

Unfair Competition - False Advertising - Scope Of Federal Jurisdiction Under Section 43(A) Of Lanham Act, John D. Kelly S.Ed.

Michigan Law Review

Plaintiff brought suit in a state court seeking injunctive relief, alleging unfair competition by defendant in manufacturing and selling slavish copies of plaintiff's swimsuits. One of the six causes of action alleged in the complaint was based on a violation of section 43 (a) of the Lanham Act. Defendant had the suit removed to federal district court. On motion to remand, held, denied. The alleged violation of section 43 (a) created a federal right of action within the original jurisdiction of the federal courts. Catalina, Inc. v. Gem Swimwear, Inc., (S.D. N.Y. 1958) 162 F. Supp. 911.

Federal Taxation - Transferee Liability Of Insurance Beneficiary, John Gelder S.Ed.

Michigan Law Review

Nearly six years after taxpayer died income tax deficiencies were determined against his estate. Since his estate was insolvent the Commissioner sought to impose transferee liability under section 311 of the 1939 code (now I.R.C. section 6901) on plaintiff, taxpayer's widow, as beneficiary of" her husband's life insurance. The Tax Court, applying federal law, held plaintiff liable for the entire deficiency since the proceeds received by her exceeded that amount. The court of appeals, applying state law, reversed and ruled that the beneficiary was not a "transferee" within the meaning of section 311 even to the extent of the cash …

Insurance - Federal Regulation - Authority Of Federal Trade Commission To Regulate False Advertising By Insurance Companies As Affected By The Mccarran-Ferguson Act, Charles C. Moore S.Ed.

Michigan Law Review

Petitioner, the FTC, issued cease and desist orders prohibiting respondent health and accident insurance companies, doing business in interstate commerce, from disseminating allegedly false and deceptive advertising through the medium of local agents. These orders, issued pursuant to the FTC act, sought to proscribe such activity both in states that had statutes prohibiting unfair and deceptive practices and in states that did not. The Courts of Appeals for the Fifth and Sixth Circuits concluded that the FTC had no authority to regulate such advertising in states which had prohibitory legislation. On certiorari to the United States Supreme Court, held, …

Clark & Sohn: World Peace Through World Law, Harding Bancroft

Michigan Law Review

A Review of World Peace Through World Law. By Grenville Clark and Louis B. Sohn.

Sales - Credit Sales - Application Of Usury Statute, Jerome S. Traum S.Ed.

Michigan Law Review

Plaintiff bought a tractor from defendant's agent for $2950 and received a trade-in allowance of $1180, leaving an unpaid balance of $1770. Defendant's agent agreed to arrange for a loan from defendant for the balance of the purchase price, without stating a time price for the tractor different from the cash price previously discussed. The loan was made, and plaintiff signed a note and chattel mortgage in the amount of $2161.84, payable in two annual installments. The $391.84 excess over the balance due exceeded the maximum legal rate of interest allowed by Nebraska's Installment Loan Act. Plaintiff later sued in …

Future Interests - Rule Against Perpetuities - Recent Statutory Amendment In New York, Paul K. Gaston S.Ed.

Michigan Law Review

After 128 years of criticism and confusion and enormous amounts of litigation, New York has amended its statutory rule against perpetuities. The old rule provided that the absolute power of alienation could not be suspended for longer, than "two lives in being" at the creation of the estate plus a minority exception in some cases. Under the new rule the absolute power of alienation can be suspended for a period measured by any number of "lives in being" at the creation of the estate so long as they are not "so designated or so numerous as to make proof of …

Loss & Cowett: Blue Sky Law, Homer D. Crotty

Michigan Law Review

A Review of Blue Sky Law. By Louis Loss and Edward W. Cowett.

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.

Restitution - Availabilty As An Alternative Remedy Where Plaintiff Has Fully Performed A Contract To Provide Goods Or Services, Jerome K. Walsh Jr.

Michigan Law Review

It is hornbook law that restitution is sometimes available as an alternative remedy to a party who has suffered a breach of contract after having conferred a benefit on the defaulting party. It is equally clear, however, that in many cases where a benefit has been conferred, the plaintiff may not elect to sue for the value of his performance but is left to his action for damages on the contract. The cases which are concerned with one or the other of the above rules constitute a large portion of the area of the law called Restitution, and no attempt …

Corporations - Derivative Suits - Stockholder Demand As Condition Precedent, W. Stanley Walch S.Ed.

Michigan Law Review

A derivative suit alleging directors' fraud was brought by a minority shareholder, but there was no allegation of a demand for relief having been made on the corporation's stockholders prior to bringing the suit. The plaintiff did allege, however, that it was useless and impossible for him to make demand on the stockholders because the complaint charged directors' fraud which was a void act beyond the power of the stockholders to ratify, and secondly because it would be highly unreasonable to require plaintiff to make a demand for relief on more than 100,000 stockholders of the corporation. Delaware Chancery Rule …

Workmen's Compensation - Recreation Injury, David Shute S.Ed.

Michigan Law Review

Decedent was employed by an automobile dealer as assistant manager of the service department. The dealer's custom was to hold a monthly business meeting of the staff of major departments after working hours and without extra compensation. One such meeting was scheduled to be held at a city hotel. At the suggestion of an employee that it would be more pleasant to hold the meeting at a nearby lake, the employer changed the meeting place to a summer cottage owned by him. It was understood by those attending that there would be an opportunity for swimming and boating. Decedent was …

Chamberlin, Bradley, Reilly And Pound: Labor Unions And Public Policy & Gregory: Labor And The Law, Paul R. Haerle

Michigan Law Review

A Review of Labor Unions and Public Policy. By Edward H. Chamberlin, Philip D. Bradley, Gerard D. Reilly and Roscoe Pound.

Front Matter, Michigan Law Review

Michigan Law Review

Front Matter for Volume 57, Issue 1 of Michigan Law Review