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Full-Text Articles in Law
Joint Tenancy-Effect Of Word "Jointly"-Parol Evidence As To Intent
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 …
Damages - Breach Of Contract - Right To Compete In A Contest, Michigan Law Review
Damages - Breach Of Contract - Right To Compete In A Contest, Michigan Law Review
Michigan Law Review
Defendant organized a contest whereby the public was invited to guess the number of beans in a jar, the fifteen persons submitting the answers most nearly correct to be entitled to become participants in a "quiz contest" in which the prize was an automobile to be awarded to "the person who is the last to be eliminated." The participants drew for the order in which they were to be questioned, the plaintiff drawing first position. On the fourth round of questions the plaintiff missed the question put to him, and then the other contestant failed to answer correctly, whereupon the …
Contracts - Consideration - Moral Obligation To Pay For Services Rendered In Past, Michigan Law Review
Contracts - Consideration - Moral Obligation To Pay For Services Rendered In Past, Michigan Law Review
Michigan Law Review
After decedent's wife died, claimants, her mother and sister, at the request of the decedent, broke up their home and came to live with him, to keep house for him and to care for his children. These services continued for ten years, at which time the decedent gave claimants his promissory notes aggregating $2,000. They entered these notes as claims against his estate. Held, the claimants' services, even if rendered gratuitously, were performed at the decedent's request and raised a moral obligation which was sufficient consideration for the notes. In re Schoenkerman's Estate, (Wis. 1940) 294 N. W. …
Municipal Corporations - Quasi-Contractual Liability - Distinction Between Quasi-Contract And Ratification, Edward J. Wendrow
Municipal Corporations - Quasi-Contractual Liability - Distinction Between Quasi-Contract And Ratification, Edward J. Wendrow
Michigan Law Review
Plaintiff sued to recover for services rendered as foreman on a city "Works Project," the services having been rendered at the request of the mayor and with full knowledge on the part of the city council. Because of the foregoing fact the plaintiff claimed the contract had been ratified even though no formal corporate action had been taken authorizing the contract. Defendant's demurrer was overruled in the circuit court. On appeal, held, although plaintiff could not recover in an action based on the alleged contract because no formal contract was ever entered into, and because plaintiff's compensation had not …
Gifts Of Choses In Action -- Delivery, Michigan Law Review
Gifts Of Choses In Action -- Delivery, Michigan Law Review
Michigan Law Review
The alleged donor of a trust certificate of the X trust company presented it at the office of the company, had the assignment blank on the back of the certificate filled in and the name of the donee registered on the books of the company, but retained possession of the certificate at all times except during the interval when the registration was taking place. Previous to the transaction the donor had stated that he did not intend to "sign it over" to the donee but merely to "have it fixed in case something happened to him." Yet he told the …
Quasi Contracts-Mistake-Recovery Of Money Paid In Settlement Of Disputed Claim
Quasi Contracts-Mistake-Recovery Of Money Paid In Settlement Of Disputed Claim
Michigan Law Review
Defendant, who had not heard from her husband during seven years of separation, believed that he had lost his life in the sinking of a car ferry owned by the plaintiff, because a man employed by plaintiff on the car ferry was registered on plaintiff's books under a name similar to one which defendant's husband had occasionally used. After defendant started suit against plaintiff for damages, plaintiff, believing that the deceased was the husband of the defendant, paid $4000 to defendant and received a release of all claims. Subsequent investigation, made after inquiry by the real wife of the deceased, …
Sales - Section 14, Uniform Conditional Sales Act - Removal To Other State Without Refiling
Sales - Section 14, Uniform Conditional Sales Act - Removal To Other State Without Refiling
Michigan Law Review
The plaintiff, vendor in a conditional sale contract, received notice of the removal of the goods by the vendee to another State, but failed to refile the contract in the other State as required by its statute. A creditor of the vendee attached the goods without notice of the conditional sale contract, but was given actual notice of it by the plaintiff during the prescribed filing period. In this action, the plaintiff sought to recover the goods from the attaching creditor. Held, the conditional sale contract was void as to the creditor in the absence of a refiling, notwithstanding …
Contracts - Duration Of Employment When No Time Is Specified
Contracts - Duration Of Employment When No Time Is Specified
Michigan Law Review
The plaintiff, claiming a contract from year to year, sued to recover for the unexpired portion of the second year of his employment which defendant had terminated. The offer, made and accepted by mail, was for "the position of General Sales Manager at a salary of $15,000 per year to begin with . . . . " It further appeared that plaintiff had moved from New York to Milwaukee, that he had been making more money per year prior to this employment, and that payment by defendant had been made monthly. Held, that the hiring was indefinite and terminable …
Vendor -Purchaser-Prospective Inability Of Vendor To Convey
Vendor -Purchaser-Prospective Inability Of Vendor To Convey
Michigan Law Review
In a contract for the sale of sixty-three lots of a subdivision, the defendant agreed to take the purchase money by installments extending over a period of eighteen months, and promised to convey the premises free from encumbrances when twenty-five per cent of the sale price was paid. While the plaintiff was not in default the defendant mortgaged the entire subdivision to one who was not charged with notice, to secure the payment of bonds some of which did not mature for five years. Stipulations m the mortgage allowed the release of any lot on deposit with the mortgagee of …
Contracts - Statute Of Frauds - Moral Obligation As Consideration
Contracts - Statute Of Frauds - Moral Obligation As Consideration
Michigan Law Review
The defendant, who gave the plaintiff, a real estate broker, a promissory note for services rendered pursuant to an oral contract within the statute of frauds, was held liable thereon, since he had received material pecuniary benefit under circumstances giving rise to a moral obligation to pay. Elbinger v. Capitol & Teutonia Co., (Wis. 1932) 242 N. W. 568.
Wills -Validity Of Contracts To Suppress
Wills -Validity Of Contracts To Suppress
Michigan Law Review
Certain children entered into a contract during the lifetime of their parents, by the terms of which it was agreed that if the will of either parent should favor some of the children above others, the favored children would waive their rights under the will and share equally in the real and personal estate of the parents. The will of the father left the whole estate to the mother. Her will omitted any gift to one of the children, and this suit was brought by an assignee of that child to obtain specific performance of the agreement. Held, that …
Workmen's Compensation Acts-Single Side Venture As A Business Of The Employer
Workmen's Compensation Acts-Single Side Venture As A Business Of The Employer
Michigan Law Review
The plaintiffs, whose regular occupation was that of farming, were under a contract to move a house. The claimant, employed by the plaintiffs to assist in the undertaking (it does not appear whether he was regularly employed by them as a farmhand), was injured when a bridge, over which the house was being moved, fell into the river. Held, the injury was not compensable under the Workmen's Compensation Act since the employment was not "in the course of a trade, business, profession, or occupation'' of the employers. Vandervort v. Industrial Commission (Wis. 1931) 234 N.W. 492.
Equity - Conditional Rescission For Unilateral Mistakes
Equity - Conditional Rescission For Unilateral Mistakes
Michigan Law Review
Lessee submitted a lease containing an option for renewal to the attorney of the lessor. Being informed by 'the lessor's attorney that the lessor probably would not accept the lease with the option for renewal, the lessee submitted another without this feature. The lessor by mistake signed the lease containing the option and mailed it to the lessee. Lessor sued for rescission. Held, rescission granted on condition that the lessor give the lessee a privilege of taking the lease the lessor intended to sign. Miller v. Stanich (Wis. 1930) 233 N.W. 753.