Law Commons^™

Criminal Law - Insane Persons - Competency To Stand Trial, John H. Hess M.D., Henry B. Pearsall S.Ed., Donald A. Slichter S.Ed., Herbert E. Thomas M.D.

Michigan Law Review

Mental unsoundness in a person accused of a crime raises two distinct legal questions. One is the question of the individual's responsibility for his behavior and the other is the question of the individual's competency to enter into the legal procedures of trial or punishment. In recent years considerable attention has been given to matters of responsibility, but relatively little attention has been paid to the problem of incompetency and especially to the consequences of incompetency proceedings. In order to analyze and evaluate the operations of the Michigan law in the area of incompetency to stand trial, two psychiatrists joined …

Property - Powers - State Powers Statutes Protecting Creditors And Requiring Formal Execution, Robert A. Smith S. Ed.

Michigan Law Review

The first part of the comment considers the elevation sections of the statute-sections that change the donee's interest in the appointive or dispositive property to a fee for the benefit of creditors. The second part considers the execution sections of the statute-sections that subject the execution of powers to conveyancing requirements. These sections are of the utmost significance to estate planners.

Real Property - Elimination Of The Straw Man In The Creation Of Joint Estates In Michigan, Edward H. Hoenicke S.Ed.

Michigan Law Review

That joint ownership is a popular form of holding title to real property is undeniable. A husband and wife are especially likely to consider this form of ownership as "natural" and desirable because it emphasizes the concept of marriage as a partnership and gives both partners control over and ownership in the family property. In addition to these factors, joint ownership is popular because of the right of survivorship which is incident to it. In this feature the layman sees, or thinks he sees, the opportunity to avoid a probate proceeding, the estate tax, and the lawyer's fee. It is …

Real Property-Construction Of Deeds-Effect Of Phrase "And/Or Survivor" Following Names Of Grantees, Gene E. Overbeck S.Ed.

Michigan Law Review

The receiver of a bank deeded land "to Alfred Carothers and Delarma Hackett, or survivor." Plaintiff, Hackett's grantee, brought an action for construction of the deed. On appeal, held, the deed conveyed a moiety to each for life with remainder to the survivor in fee, and neither grantee, by a conveyance during his lifetime, could cut off the contingent remainder. Rowerdink v. Carothers, 334 Mich. 454, 54 N.W. (2d) 715 (1952).

Landlord And Tenant-Liability Of Landlord To Persons On The Premises-Breach Of Covenant To Repair, Thomas P. Segerson

Michigan Law Review

Plaintiff, a carpenter, hired by tenant, suffered personal injuries in a fall caused by a defective railing on the rear porch of premises leased by defendant to tenant. By the terms of the lease, tenant was given exclusive possession of the premises, while defendant agreed to keep the rear porch in repair. Defendant had failed to repair the railing on being notified of its defective condition. From a judgment holding defendant liable to plaintiff for the injuries sustained; defendant appealed. Held, reversed. In the absence of control of the premises, a lessor is not liable in tort for personal …

Legislation-Perpetuities-Some Recent Statutory Changes In The Law Of Perpetuities, Thomas L. Waterbury S.Ed.

Michigan Law Review

During the past five years the legislatures of several states have wrestled anew with an old problem, that of limiting the permissible duration of indirect restraints upon the alienation of property. Generally speaking, these statutes may be grouped into two classes: those designed to abandon previous statutory modifications of the common law rule against perpetuities and return to the common law rule; and those designed to modify the common law rule or alter existing statutory rules. With respect to the latter group, a further classification is possible between statutes which attempt a general revision of the law as to perpetuities …

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 …

Corporations --Voting Trusts -- Non-Compliance With Statute As A Basis For Judicial Termination, Joseph R. Brookshire S.Ed.

Michigan Law Review

It is not the purpose of this comment to discuss the history of the voting trust, to recapitulate the controversy over its legality, or to examine the many grounds for termination of the trust. It is sufficient to say that in all but perhaps three states this important business device has been made legal by statute or by judicial decision. We are here concerned with finding the degree of statutory compliance necessary in order that the voting trust will be sustained.

Corporations-Extent Of Powers To Dispose Of Property In Winding Up Its Affairs Under Statutes Extending Corporate Existence, Joseph R. Brookshire S.Ed.

Michigan Law Review

According to the common law a dissolved corporation ceased to exist for all purposes. Whether the dissolution was voluntary or involuntary, the effect of the dissolution was to deprive the corporation of all powers either de jure or de facto. It was necessary, therefore, that corporations facing dissolution proceed without delay toward a final liquidation and distribution of assets. Disregarding the old theory that personal property of dissolved corporations escheated to the state, and that its real estate reverted to the original granter or his heirs, and that debts due the corporation were extinguished, it is still apparent that hurried …

Joint Tenancy-Effect Of Word "Jointly"-Parol Evidence As To Intent

Michigan Law Review

The common law rule was well settled that a conveyance to two or more, not husband and wife, made them joint tenants, not tenants in common, unless language was used to show an intent that they were not to be joint tenants. The reason for such a rule having passed, the modern rule is to the opposite effect-two or more conveyees, with certain exceptions, are presumptively tenants in common. The Illinois statute, for example, declares that "no estate in joint tenancy in any lands ... shall be held or claimed under any grant . . . unless the premises therein …

Criminal Law And Procedure - Conspiracy To Commit A Misdemeanor As A Felony, Michigan Law Review

Michigan Law Review

The defendant was indicted for conspiring to destroy the poles and wires of an electric public utility, the destruction of such property being a statutory misdemeanor. The indictment was prosecuted under the provision of the Michigan statutes which states that all crimes indictable at common law are punishable as felonies unless specifically declared otherwise by the statute. The crime of conspiracy comes under this "common-law offense" provision. Upon denial of his motion to dismiss, defendant sought mandamus to review the ruling. Held, an agreement to do an act made a misdemeanor by statute is a common-law conspiracy, and such …

Banks And Banking - Right Of National Bank To Sue On Personal Guaranty To State Bank After Consolidation L Of State Bank With National Bank, William C. Whitehead

Michigan Law Review

Defendants guaranteed payment to a state bank of the notes and renewals made by a borrower. Shortly thereafter the state bank was consolidated with a national banking association. The borrower issued a renewal note to the consolidated bank for the indebtedness owing the state bank. This was followed by a consolidation with another state bank, the appointment of a receiver, and the sale of the consolidated bank's assets to plaintiff. In answer to the claim on the guaranty for payment of the renewal note, defendants declared that the obligation was not assignable and that the identity of the obligee was …

Rights In Land - Lateral Support - Statute Increasing Common Law Rights And Duties - Constitutionality

Michigan Law Review

Plaintiff sued for damages to his building which collapsed during excavating operations on defendant's adjoining land. A Michigan statute makes it the duty of land owners excavating to a depth of 12 feet or more below grade level to furnish sufficient lateral support to protect adjacent land and structures thereon from injury "due to the removed material in its natural state, or due to the disturbance of other existing conditions caused by such excavation," and imposes liability for injuries due to failure to comply with the act. The excavation on defendant's land, reaching a depth of 14 feet below grade …

Contracts - Champerty

Michigan Law Review

Plaintiff leased her lands to defendant under a void oil and gas lease. One Johnston induced plaintiff to enter into a contract with him whereby Johnston agreed to pay the costs of a bill to cancel the lease in return for a new lease to himself should the bill be successful. Accordingly, this suit was brought to cancel the lease. The court, agreeing that the existing lease was void, nevertheless dismissed the bill on the ground that the contract between Johnston and plaintiff was void as against public policy, and that plaintiff had no standing in equity. Of the eight …

Note And Comment, Ralph W. Aigler, Charles L. Kaufman, Edwin D. Dickinson, Lester S. Hecht, Leon L. Greenbaum

Michigan Law Review

Judicial Reform in Michigan - The legislature which has been in regular session this year has enacted a measure enlarging the scope of judicial action in a way likely to add very greatly to the iusefulness of the courts. This law authorizes courts of record to make binding declarations of the rights of parties prior to the commission of a wrongful act