Digital Commons Network^™

Equity-Power To Rescind Conveyance For Fraud-Survival, Stephen A. Bryant

Michigan Law Review

Defendants obtained a deed from plaintiffs' testator shortly before he died. Plaintiffs, his residuary devisees, filed a bill seeking cancellation of the deed, alleging that it was procured by undue influence. Defendants demurred on the ground that undue influence is a species of fraud and the power to rescind a conveyance for fraud does not survive the grantor's death. The demurrer was overruled. On appeal, held, affirmed. The power to rescind was not extinguished by the grantor's death. Glojek v. Glojek, (Wis. 1948) 35 N.W. (2d) 203.

Real Property - General Mineral Reservation In Deed - Lack Of Knowledge That Substance Is A Mineral, G. B. Myers

Michigan Law Review

In 1892 plaintiff's predecessor in title contracted to convey certain land to defendant, subject to a reservation of "all coal and mineral deposits in and upon said lands," and in 1896 he executed a deed to defendant containing the same reservation. Plaintiff, in 1947, filed a bill to quiet title to bauxite deposits on the land. Held, bill dismissed. Bauxite, not being generally regarded as a mineral at the time of conveyance, was not intended to be within the operation of the mineral reservation. Carson v. Missouri Pac. R. Co., 212 Ark. 963, 209 S.W. (2d) 97 (1948).

Quasi-Contracts-Rescission For Fraud-Defrauding Vendee's Right To Recover For Improvements, G. B. Myers

Michigan Law Review

Defendant fraudulently obtained a conveyance of land from plaintiff and while in possession of the tract made repairs and improvements to a building thereon. Upon discovery of the fraud plaintiff sued in equity to cancel the deeds involved, and tendered into court the consideration received from defendant. The lower court cancelled the deeds, returning the consideration to defendant, but refused to admit defendant's evidence of repairs and improvements on the ground that equity will not allow a claim for the value of improvements when made by a defrauding party. Held, reversed in part. The evidence was admissible, and an …

Taxation-Income Tax-Income From Discharge Of Indebtedness, R. V. Ehrick

Michigan Law Review

In 1925 taxpayer obtained a loan of $90,000 from a bank, executing in return 200 bonds secured by a mortgage on certain of his property. The bank sold the bonds to the public. Until 1932 taxpayer was able to pay the interest and retire the bonds according to schedule, but in that year, compelled by a "straitened" (but solvent) financial condition, he obtained an extension of interest and principal payments. During 1938, 1939 and 1940 (prior to maturity) taxpayer repurchased a portion of the bonds at considerably less than face value, some of the purchases being made through a bondholders' …

Vanderbilt: Men And Measures In The Law, Michigan Law Review

Michigan Law Review

A Review of MEN AND MEASURES IN THE LAW. By Arthur T. Vanderbilt.

Public Opinion And Foreign Policy, Michigan Law Review

Michigan Law Review

A Review of PUBLIC OPINION AND FOREIGN POLICY Edited by Lester Markel.

Notes, Michigan Law Review

Michigan Law Review

The information given in the notes is derived from inspection of the books, publishers' literature, and the ordinary library sources.

The Struggle For Democracy In Germany, Michigan Law Review

Michigan Law Review

A Review of THE STRUGGLE FOR DEMOCRACY IN GERMANY. Edited by Gabriel A. Almond.

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.

Adoption - Right Of Inheritance In Absence Of Legal Adoption-Specific Performance Of Contract To Adopt And Other Remedies, James C. Mordy

Michigan Law Review

Adoption was unknown at common law. Modern statutes permitting adoption are largely derived from Roman ideas, which were introduced into this country first through the civil law of Louisiana and later by statutes, beginning with Massachusetts in 1851.

Under the English common law, the only persons capable of inheriting property were blood relations of the deceased. On the other hand, most modern adoption statutes permit inheritance by adopted children equally with natural children. Adoption being purely statutory, the early cases denied the right of inheritance by supposedly adopted children when the statute was not strictly followed. Though still purporting to …

Sanders: Juvenile Courts In North Carolina, Michigan Law Review

Michigan Law Review

A Review of JUVENILE COURTS IN NORTH CAROLINA By Wiley B. Sanders.

Front Matter, Michigan Law Review

Michigan Law Review

Front Matter for Volume 47, Issue 7 of Michigan Law Review

Coming Into Equity With Clean Hands, Zechariah Chafee, Jr.

Michigan Law Review

The most amusing maxim of equity is "He who comes into Equity must come with clean hands." It has given rise ,to many interesting cases and poor jokes. The maxim has been regarded as an especially significant manifestation of the ethical attitude of equity as contrasted with the common law. Pomeroy, for instance, argues that the principle involved in this maxim is "merely the expression of one of the elementary and fundamental conceptions of equity jurisprudence." Pomeroy's theory is that chancery has power to force a defendant to comply with the dictates of conscience as to matters outside the strict …

Streamlining Conveyancing Procedure, Paul E. Basye

Michigan Law Review

The need for simplifying-even streamlining-conveyancing procedure has been all too well recognized for decades, but until the present decade relatively little progress toward a satisfactory system has been achieved. We have continued to labor under the handicaps of an inherited system which has become more cumbersome with each passing year. It is noteworthy, however, that several steps have been put into operation within recent years which have proved extremely fruitful and have, in certain limited areas, introduced thoroughgoing revisions in traditional practices. But in most states the far-reaching improvements necessary to an efficient, simple and fully comprehensive conveyancing system remain …

Corporations-Restrictions On Holding Real Estate-Lnterpretation Of Michigan's Constitutional Restriction, W. M. Myers

Michigan Law Review

While it is now well settled that a corporation has the power to acquire and hold real estate, this power may be limited by the charter creating the corporation, by legislative enactments of a general nature, or by specific constitutional provisions. When such a limitation is imposed by constitution, a problem of construction arises in interpreting it in a workable way after the social conditions motivating it have changed or disappeared.

Federal Courts-Detected Verdicts In Civil Actions, Zolman Cavitch

Michigan Law Review

Juries must answer to questions of fact and judges to questions of law. This is the fundamental maxim acknowledged by the Constitution. When no fact question is present, no right to jury trial in a civil suit exists, and the constitutional guaranty is, therefore, not violated by the exercise of control by the court in keeping the jury to determination of questions of fact or in keeping it within the bounds of reason. One of the most important and often used methods of control is the directed verdict, whereby the court peremptorily instructs the jury to bring in a verdict …

Labor Law-Railway Labor Act-Effect Of Creation Of National Railroad Adjustment Board On Jurisdiction Of Courts, Frank L. Adamson S. Ed.

Michigan Law Review

The 1934 amendments to the Railway Labor Act (R.L.A.) created the National Railroad Adjustment Board (N.R.A.B.) to hear and decide disputes involving employee grievances and controversies over application and interpretation of agreements, as distinguished from disputes concerning making of collective agreements.

Mortgages-Mortgagee's Rights Against Tenant Who Occupies Premises Under Subsequent Lease By Mortgagor, Charles E. Becraft S. Ed.

Michigan Law Review

It is the purpose of this comment to discuss possible rights of the mortgagee or the purchaser at foreclosure sale, who stands in the place of the mortgagee, in dealing with a tenant of the mortgagor who holds under a lease subsequent to execution of the mortgage. Only the law of those states in which the lien theory of mortgages is in force will be considered.

Trustor As Sole Trustee And Only Ascertainable Beneficiary, William F. Fratche

Michigan Law Review

The Circuit Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit, one judge dissenting, affirmed a decision of the Board of Tax Appeals holding that a profit arising from sale of the stock was taxable to the settlor individually because the declaration did not create a trust. The majority opinion argued that, although a trust may be created solely for the benefit of unborn or unascertained beneficiaries by a transfer to a third party as trustee, it cannot be done by a declaration of trust. The opinion suggested that a transfer in trust for unborn or unascertained beneficiaries creates only a resulting …

Appeal And Error-Appeals In Forma Pauperis-Necessity For Attorney Hired On Contingent Fee To File Affidavit Of His Poverty, J. D. Mcleod

Michigan Law Review

Relying upon the applicable statute, petitioner filed a motion for appeal in forma pauperis in a federal district court. The motion was denied on the ground, inter alia, that petitioner's attorney had filed an insufficient affidavit of poverty. The court assumed that the attorney was employed on contingent fee. The denial of the motion was affirmed by the circuit court of appeals. On further appeal, held, reversed. An attorney is not required to file an affidavit of his poverty as a condition to proceedings in forma pauperis, even though he is employed on contingent fee. Adkins v. …

Bankruptcy-Jurisdiction Of Bankruptcy Court To Determine Stockholders' Vote Necessary To Approve Proposed Sale Of Corporation's Assets To Debtor In Reorganization, Bernard Goldstone S. Ed.

Michigan Law Review

Lessee railroad, which had leased and operated property of lessor railroad for many years, entered reorganization under section 77 of the Bankruptcy Act. Under the plan of reorganization promulgated by the Interstate Commerce Commission and approved by the bankruptcy court, lessor was given the alternative of selling its property to the reorganized railroad or having the lease disaffirmed by the debtor and its property returned. This proposal was submitted for acceptance by a majority vote of lessor's stockholders. Respondents, stockholders of lessor, sought an injunction in a state court of Georgia to restrain lessor's officers from certifying the acceptance in …

Constitutional Law-Search And Seizure As An Incident To Lawful Arrest, Zolman Cavitch

Michigan Law Review

Petitioners, suspected of carrying on an illegal lottery, had been under police observation for several months, during which time one of the petitioners maintained a room in a rooming house in the District of Columbia. On the day of the arrest, a police officer, without a warrant, but believing the unlawful lottery to be in operation, climbed through a window of the landlady's room, and admitted two other officers. They proceeded to the petitioner's room, where one of the officers looked through the transom. Seeing the petitioners working on an illegal lottery, the officers entered the room, arrested the petitioners …

Constitutional Law-Due Process-Freedom Of Speech-Limitations On Use Of Sound Amplification Devices, Bernard Goldstone S. Ed.

Michigan Law Review

Appellant used sound equipment mounted on his truck to comment on a labor dispute. He was convicted in a police court of violating a city ordinance which prohibited the use on any public street of sound amplifying devices emitting loud and raucous noises. The intermediate court of appeal of New Jersey, in affirming the conviction, construed the ordinance to be an absolute prohibition. The conviction was sustained on appeal to the highest court of New Jersey by an evenly divided court of twelve justices. On appeal to the United States Supreme Court, held, affirmed. Justice Reed, joined by Chief …

Corporations-Appraisal Statutes-Exclusiveness Of Statutory Remedy, William R, Worth

Michigan Law Review

Defendant corporation's charter provided for retirement 'of preferred stock at par plus accumulated dividends, before payment could be made to common stockholders, in the event of dissolution or "recapture" of its assets by the enfranchising city. Under authority of a majority vote of its stockholders, the corporation conveyed all its assets to defendant City of Quincy, the enfranchising city. Defendants offered to pay preferred stockholders only $150 per share, although par plus accumulated dividends amounted to $205 and some common stockholders had already received $5 per share. Plaintiffs, preferred stockholders, sued to secure full payment, but the trial court held …

Descent And Distribution - Widow's Statutory Share - Widow Allowed To Elect Against Husband's Inter Vivos Trust Of Promise Under Seal, David H. Armstrong S. Ed.

Michigan Law Review

Eleven years before his death, H executed his bond under seal for $20,000 payable one year after his death. He delivered the bond to a trustee to hold upon an irrevocable trust to collect and pay the proceeds to named beneficiaries. Upon H's death with a personal estate approximately equal to the amount of the bond, his widow elected to claim her statutory share in the estate, alleging that the bond was invalid. The trustee filed a bill alleging that the trust was sufficient to bar the widow, and the widow demurred. The demurrer was overruled by the trial …

Evidence-Federal Criminal Procedure-Admissibility Of Confession Obtained During Illegal Detention, William F. Snyder S. Ed.

Michigan Law Review

Petitioner was arrested without a warrant on suspicion of larceny. He was held without commitment for a period of thirty hours during which he was intermittently questioned but was not subjected to any form of physical coercion. At the end of this period, he signed a confession which was the basis for his conviction in the district court. On certiorari to the United States Supreme Court, following affirmation in the court of appeals, held, reversed. The detention was unlawful as a violation of rule 5 (a) of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, and the confession thus obtained was …

Equity-Divorce And Separation-Wife's Agreement Not To Claim Alimony As Defense To Later Action For Arrears, Melvin J. Spencer

Michigan Law Review

In a prior action against H for separate maintenance, W was awarded custody of their children and monthly maintenance of $50. She later lived openly with X, adopted his name, and had a child by him. Some of the children left W during their minority and lived with H. The maintenance payments were discontinued when W told H that she would no longer receive them. Four years after payments ceased, W unsuccessfully moved the federal district court to adjudge H guilty of contempt and to award her a money judgment for the past-due installments. Held, judgment for …

Federal Courts-Granting Of New Trial On Initiative Of The Court, William F. Snyder S. Ed.

Michigan Law Review

Following conviction for violation of a federal statute, petitioner was granted his release on a writ of habeas corpus by a federal district court, on the basis of uncontroverted testimony that his counsel had not been present when the jury returned its verdict. Within ten days of this release, a motion for rehearing was filed, supported by affidavits that his counsel actually had been present. On subsequent hearing, the court set aside its former order and remanded petitioner to custody, on the theory that his release was obtained by means of a fraud on the Court. The present action was …

Future Interests-Rule As To Remoteness Of Vesting In California, Howard W. Haftel S. Ed.

Michigan Law Review

T devised the income of a trust to his unmarried daughter for life. If at her death there were living issue of the daughter, the income was to be distributed to such issue until 24 years after T's death. The trust was then to terminate, unless issue, who had been living at T's death, should survive the 24-year period, in which event the income was to continue to be distributed until the death of such issue. It was further provided, "if my said daughter survives me, but at the time of her death leaves no issue of hers …

Future Interests-Worthier Title Doctrine, David H. Armstrong S. Ed.

Michigan Law Review

Plaintiff created an irrevocable trust of $75,000, reserving the income to himself for life and directing distribution of the corpus upon his death to his heirs according to the California laws of succession in existence at his death. Later he sued to terminate the trust on the theory that since the worthier title doctrine prevented creation of a remainder in his heirs, he was sole beneficiary. The intermediate California appellate court held that the worthier title doctrine was inapplicable because of a California statute changing the word "heirs" from one of limitation to one of purchase. Therefore, the outstanding remainder …