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Griswold: The Fifth Amendment Today, George S. Flint S.Ed.

Michigan Law Review

A Review of The Fifth Amendment Today. By Erwin N. Griswold

Alsop: We Accuse!, George S. Flint S.Ed.

Michigan Law Review

A Review of We Accuse! By Joseph and Stewart Alsop

Recent Books: Notes, Michigan Law Review

Michigan Law Review

A List of Books Received by Michigan Law Review

Monthly Periodical Index, Michigan Law Review

Michigan Law Review

This department lists the articles and comments which appear in leading law reviews. The index embraces material published since the last issue of this Review.

Corporations - The Fudiciary Duty Of Directors In The Issuance Of Stock Subject To Preemptive Rights, Howard M. Downs

Michigan Law Review

In Gord v. Iowana Farms Milk Co. , a stockholder protested the issue to the defendant of certain shares of stock in a closely held corporation. At the time of the sale, the plaintiff was a director and secretary-treasurer of the corporation with access to the corporate books and knowledge of the corporate assets. At the meeting at which the stock was issued, the plaintiff signed a statement saying "at the present time I do not elect to purchase any stock. . . ." The stock, sold for $15 a share, had a value variously estimated at $50 to $103.22. …

Negligence - Proximate Cause - Liability Of Saloon Keeper For Liquor Sale Against Wife's Notice, Stephen C. Bransdorfer

Michigan Law Review

A wrongful death action was brought by the widow and children of a deceased patron of defendant's saloon, the patron having been fatally injured in a fall while engaged in fisticuffs after consuming liquor sold by defendant. Plaintiffs alleged that defendant knew that deceased became belligerent when intoxicated and that sales were made despite widow's prior request that liquor not be furnished to deceased husband in sufficient quantity to cause intoxication. The trial court sustained a demurrer without leave to amend and gave judgment for defendant. On appeal, held, reversed; the trial court abused its discretion. Cole v. Rush …

Real Property - Grantor's Covenant To Insert Restrictions In Future Deeds As Personal Covenant, John B. Huck

Michigan Law Review

Certain farm owners, intending to subdivide the land, conveyed a lot to plaintiff by a deed restricting its use to residence purposes and providing that only single dwellings could be erected. The grantors covenanted to insert the same restrictions in future deeds to the rest of the land. Plaintiff recorded his deed. The grantors subsequently sold another lot to defendant church without inserting a similar restrictive covenant. Plaintiff brought suit to enjoin the erection of the church. On appeal from a decree for defendant, held, affirmed, three judges dissenting. The parties to the first deed, in providing for similar …

Front Matter, Michigan Law Review

Michigan Law Review

Front Matter for Volume 53, Issue 4 of Michigan Law Review

Adequacy Of Instructions To The Jury: I, Curtis Wright, Jr

Michigan Law Review

In view of frequent judicial complaints about "instructions by the acre," it may be appropriate to begin with a short justification for an article bearing a title which might appear to suggest an antithetical problem, that is, the existence of a question as to the adequacy of instructions to the jury. To this end one might repeat the assertion that the verdict of a jury which is not instructed as to the fundamental law of the case is "crackerbarrel justice." If this is true, it certainly is also true that the mere number of instructions given is no guarantee of …

Justice Murphy And The Welfare Question, Leo Weiss

Michigan Law Review

In 1941, an Italian law professor arrived in the United States to make his home here. Born in Russia during Czarist days, he was educated in Austria, England, and Italy, finally settling there and becoming a citizen. A member of the Italian bar and teacher of law at the Universities of Florence and Rome, he found himself in 1939 unwanted in his adopted homeland. He went to France, where he practiced law until coming to this country. In New York City he joined the Graduate Faculty of the New School for Social Research, remaining in that post for five years, …

Justice Jackson And The Judicial Function, Paul A. Weidner

Michigan Law Review

Much of the pattern of division in the present Supreme Court is traceable to basic differences of opinion regarding the proper role of a judge in the process of constitutional adjudication. Some students of the Court, yielding to the current fashion of reducing even intricate problems to capsule terms, have tried to explain the controversy by classifying the justices as either "liberals" or "conservatives." A second school poses the disagreement largely in terms of judicial "activism" as opposed to judicial "restraint." It is this view that has the greater relevance for the present discussion. C.H. Pritchett, one of the leading …

Conflict Of Laws -- Escheat Of Intangible Property To The State Of Situs, John F. Dodge, Jr S.Ed.

Michigan Law Review

The intestate died domiciled in California leaving no known heirs or next of kin. In addition to property in California adequate to pay his debts, the deceased left deposits in three New York banks. The domiciliary administrator, acting as ancillary administrator in New York, received the proceeds of the bank accounts, petitioned for judicial settlement, and requested payment of the ancillary estate to himself as domiciliary administrator. Held, the money should be paid to the Comptroller of the State of New York as abandoned property. In re Menschefrend's Estate, 283 App. Div. 463, 128 N.Y.S. (2d) 738 (1954).

Constitutional Law - Equal Protection - Discrimination Against Negroes In State Recreation Facilities, Sanford B. Hertz S.Ed.

Michigan Law Review

Three suits were brought to obtain injunctions to prevent racial segregation at public bathing beaches, bathhouses, and swimming pools. Because the cases raised the same legal issue they were consolidated for trial. The plaintiffs moved for judgment on the pleadings. Held, motion denied. The segregation of Negroes and whites at bathing beaches, bathhouses and swimming pools does not per se deny to Negroes any rights protected by the Fourteenth Amendment to the Federal Constitution. Lonesome v. Maxwell, (D.C. Md. 1954) 123 F. Supp. 193.

Labor Law - State Jurisdiction Over Acts Which Are Unfair Labor Practices Under Federal Labor Legislation, Eugene Alkema S.Ed.

Michigan Law Review

Extensive federal labor legislation under the commerce clause has created a perplexing jurisdictional problem in the state courts, which are confronted increasingly with the critical issue of possible conflict with a federal preemptive area of operation. The extent to which the federal government has superseded state jurisdiction over labor matters has remained unsettled under the current case law and the legislative history of the federal acts, and the need for clarification is apparent at a time when labor cases are reaching the courts in increasing numbers. It is natural for unions to raise the issue of lack of jurisdiction in …

Constitutional Law - Federal Regulation Of Lobbying Act - Vague And Indefinite Language As Violation Of First And Fifth Amendment, Arne Hovdesven

Michigan Law Review

Defendants were charged with violation of the Federal Regulation of Lobbying Act because of failure to register as lobbyists under provisions of section 308 and to report expenditures as directed by section 305. The lower court found these sections of the statute unconstitutional and dismissed the information. On appeal, held, the act is not so vague and indefinite as to violate the due process clause of the Fifth Amendment; nor does it violate the First Amendment. The penalty provision of section 310(b) is not objectionable as a deprivation of First Amendment rights since it is separable. United States v. …

Constitutional Law - Legislative Contempt Power-Procedure Against Witness For Conduct Before Commission Composed Of Legislators And Others, Julius B. Poppinga

Michigan Law Review

The Massachusetts General Court, for the purpose of investigating communism and subversive activities within the Commonwealth, established by joint resolution a "special commission" composed of two members of the Senate, three members of the House, and two persons to be appointed by the governor. When the commission summoned Otis A. Hood to appear before it, he refused to be sworn as a witness without first receiving witness fees, and flippantly expressed his demand for payment. The general court requested an advisory opinion of the Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts, propounding three questions: (1) whether the special commission was a committee …

Corporations - Right Of Shareholder Under Uniform Stock Transfer To Have Shares Transferred Contrary To Corporation By-Laws, Lawrence N. Ravick S.Ed.

Michigan Law Review

The defendant, a Michigan corporation, adopted a "constitution" (by-laws) which contained the following provisions: " ... no member shall be allowed to own more than five shares of stock at any one time." This restriction was not written into the articles of incorporation or printed upon the stock certificates. Plaintiff was at one time the president and director of the defendant corporation. While an officer, he acquired twenty-five shares of stock, having at the time full knowledge of the by-law provisions. When he was no longer an officer, plaintiff purchased an additional share of defendant's capital stock and requested the …

Evidence - Admissibility In Federal Courts Of Record Of Telephone Conversation-Meaning Of "Interception", Robert C. Fox S.Ed.

Michigan Law Review

In a prosecution for perjury committed before a subcommittee of Congress, defendant filed a motion to suppress the record of a telephone conversation which had been made by the other party to the conversation without defendant's knowledge or consent.

Held , motion granted. To record a telephone conversation in this manner is to intercept it within the meaning of section 605 of the Communications Act; under the Supreme Court's ruling in Nardone v. United States, divulgence in court of a conversation so intercepted would be a violation of the Communications Act. United States v. Stephenson, (D.C. D.C. 1954) …

Labor Law - Arbitration - Right Of Employer Of Discharge Employer Who Refuses To Testify Concerning His Communist Affiliation, Mary Lee Ryan

Michigan Law Review

A member of the United Electrical Workers Union was discharged from the J. H. Day Company because of his refusal to testify concerning his communist affiliation before the Ohio Un-American Activities Committee and because of the unfavorable publicity which had resulted. Under grievance procedure, the union brought the matter before arbitration. Findings, there was no just cause for dismissal. The employee is entitled to back pay and to reinstatement subject to security clearance. J. H. Day Company,. 22 LAB. Aim. RBP. 751 (1954).

Labor Law - Labor-Management Relations Act - Applicable Remedies When An Employer Transers To A New Location To Avoid Dealing With A Union, John F. Dodge, Jr. S.Ed.

Michigan Law Review

An interstate trucking concern with depots in numerous cities, was approached by a union seeking recognition as the bargaining representative of the office and clerical workers at one of the depots. The employer, after interrogating the employees involved as to their union affiliation, transferred the clerical work done at that depot to an office in a different city, but continued operating the trucking depot itself. The clerical employees were discharged but were offered reinstatement at the new location, together with reimbursement of the expenses of moving to the new location. Held, the employer violated sections 8(a)(1), 8(a)(3), and 8(a)(5) …

Negligence - Breach Of Duty - Standard Of Care Required Of Infant Defendants, Dale Van Winkle

Michigan Law Review

One of the defendants, a child four years and eight months of age, while playing with infant plaintiff, threw a stone which struck a bottle near where plaintiff was standing. A chip of glass Hew from the bottle into the eye of plaintiff, resulting in injury. The action was brought by infant plaintiff's father individually and as guardian ad litem against infant defendant's father individually and as guardian ad litem. The trial court denied infant defendant's motion for summary judgment. On appeal, held, reversed and remanded with directions to dismiss the complaint as to infant defendant. The authorities do …

Real Property - General Scheme In Enforcement Of Restrictive Covenants, Herbert R. Brown

Michigan Law Review

Common grantor filed for record a plat of the subdivision in which defendant and plaintiff both own lots. Plaintiff alleged that the subdivision was restricted. Only three of fifteen subdivision deeds entered for record contained written restrictions, and the subdivision plat which had been filed did not show any restrictions. In an action brought by plaintiff to prevent the defendant from violating the alleged restrictions, held, temporary injunction restraining the defendant granted. The court found a general building scheme of which the defendant had actual notice when he purchased his lot.Womack v. Dean, (Tex. Civ. App. 1954) …

Taxation - Federal Income Tax - Extent To Which A Dividend In Kind Is Ordinary Income Under The Internal Revenue Code, Alice Austin S.Ed.

Michigan Law Review

Taxpayer, a corporate shareholder, received from the corporation a distribution of property which had appreciated in value over its adjusted cost. The earnings and profits of the corporation were sufficient to cover the adjusted cost of the property distributed, but were not sufficient to cover its full fair market value at the time of distribution. The Tax Court held that the fair market value of the distribution was taxable as a dividend only to the extent of the corporation's earnings and profits. On appeal, held, reversed. In determining whether a distribution in kind is a dividend under section 115(a), …

Medina: Judge Medina Speaks, M. Fred Mallender, Ii S.Ed.

Michigan Law Review

A Review of Judge Medina Speaks. By Harold R. Medina

Recent Books, Notes, Michigan Law Review

Michigan Law Review

A List of Books Received by Michigan Law Review

Monthly Periodical Index, Michigan Law Review

Michigan Law Review

This department lists the articles and comments which appear in leading law reviews. The index embraces material published since the last issue of this Review.