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Full-Text Articles in Law
Efficient Breach Of International Law: Optimal Remedies, 'Legalized Noncompliance,' And Related Issues, Eric A. Posner, Alan O. Sykes
Efficient Breach Of International Law: Optimal Remedies, 'Legalized Noncompliance,' And Related Issues, Eric A. Posner, Alan O. Sykes
Michigan Law Review
In much of the scholarly literature on international law, there is a tendency to condemn violations of the law and to leave it at that. If all violations of international law were indeed undesirable, this tendency would be unobjectionable. We argue in this Article, however that a variety of circumstances arise under which violations of international law are desirable from an economic standpoint. The reasons why are much the same as the reasons why nonperformance of private contracts is sometimes desirable- the concept of "efficient breach," familiar to modern students of contract law, has direct applicability to international law. As …
Contract As Promise: A Theory Of Contractual Obligation, Michigan Law Review
Contract As Promise: A Theory Of Contractual Obligation, Michigan Law Review
Michigan Law Review
A Review of Contract as Promise: A Theory of Contractual Obligation by Charles Fried
Optional Terms (Jus Dispositivum) And Required Terms (Jus Cogens) In The Law Of Contracts, Arthur Lenhoff
Optional Terms (Jus Dispositivum) And Required Terms (Jus Cogens) In The Law Of Contracts, Arthur Lenhoff
Michigan Law Review
In speaking of statutory law in the common law courts, lawyers have ascribed to it a limiting office, namely, that of interference with the parties' freedom to act and transact at their pleasure. A closer consideration shows them that the function of statutory law varies not only with the legal system to which it belongs, but also with the structural changes within a single legal system.
Specific Performance - Effect Of A V Endor's Breach Of A Collateral Agreement, Michigan Law Review
Specific Performance - Effect Of A V Endor's Breach Of A Collateral Agreement, Michigan Law Review
Michigan Law Review
The vendor sought specific performance of a land contract containing the following clause, "On default by the buyer, the binder shall be retained by the seller, but if the seller shall be unable to make conveyance as above stipulated then the binder shall be returned and all obligations shall cease." It was agreed orally by the parties that the vendor would help the vendee finance the purchase. The vendor did provide the vendee with an application for a mortgage from a bank, but the bank did not promise to take the mortgage. Held, specific performance should be refused, both …
Marriage And Divorce - Power Of Court To Modify Decree For Alimony Or Property Settlement As Affected By Agreement Of The Parties, Roy L. Rogers
Marriage And Divorce - Power Of Court To Modify Decree For Alimony Or Property Settlement As Affected By Agreement Of The Parties, Roy L. Rogers
Michigan Law Review
Contracts settling the property interests of a husband and wife or providing for support of the wife or for both of these ends are no doubt valid in all jurisdictions where the parties may contract with each other if the purpose is not to facilitate divorce or future separation. Even at common law, separation agreements could be made, however, through the intervention of a trustee. If not invalid, the contract may ordinarily be enforced in an action on the promise. But, when a divorce is decreed, it is quite often the practice to incorporate in the divorce decree the provisions …
Eminent Domain - Covenants - Violation Of Building Restrictions By Exercise Of Public Authority - Necessity For Compensation, Edmund R. Blaske
Eminent Domain - Covenants - Violation Of Building Restrictions By Exercise Of Public Authority - Necessity For Compensation, Edmund R. Blaske
Michigan Law Review
It is the purpose of this comment to examine the contract and the property theories of restrictive covenants; and to suggest other possible grounds upon which to decide whether or not a public agency should compensate owners in the subdivision for interference with their restrictive covenants.
Limitation Of Actions - What Is A "Written" Contract Within Statute?, Michigan Law Review
Limitation Of Actions - What Is A "Written" Contract Within Statute?, Michigan Law Review
Michigan Law Review
Plaintiff sued on a clause in a deed in which the grantee assumed and agreed to pay a mortgage indebtedness therein specified. This obligation in the deed, being unsigned by the party to be charged, was held to be an unwritten contract by the lower court, and therefore barred by the six-year statute of limitations. Plaintiff appealed. Held, the contract, though unsigned by the party to be charged, was "in writing," and therefore the statutory fifteen-year period of limitations applied. McCormick v. Taft, (Ohio App. 1938) 22 N. E. (2d) 510.
Municipal Corporations - Effect Upon Collection Of Tort Judgments Of Constitutional And Statutory Limitations On Indebtedness And Taxing Powers, Michigan Law Review
Municipal Corporations - Effect Upon Collection Of Tort Judgments Of Constitutional And Statutory Limitations On Indebtedness And Taxing Powers, Michigan Law Review
Michigan Law Review
In an effort to protect the taxpayer from the extravagance of municipal officials, two types of restrictions, in the main, have been imposed: those limiting the power to contract debts, and those restricting the power to levy taxes. Frequently in an effort to recover and collect a judgment against the city, one or the other of these restrictions is met. Courts seem to hold unanimously that debt limitations apply to the city's obligations in contract and not in tort, but they are divided as to the effect of tax limitations upon collection of a tort judgment. As an example of …
Contracting By Reference To Price Indices, John P. Dawson, James Will Coultrap
Contracting By Reference To Price Indices, John P. Dawson, James Will Coultrap
Michigan Law Review
The commodity price index number has been defined as a "figure which shows the average percentage change in the prices of a number of representative goods from one point of time to another." In the preceding article it has been argued that the use of the index number in private contracts as a method of expressing stable values is not prohibited by the gold-clause resolution of June 5, 1933; that in the decisions of the United States Supreme Court sustaining this legislation there is nothing to indicate that such contracts would run counter to the Government's policies in the control …
Corporations-Trust Indenture-Notice To Security Holders Of Contents Of Indenture
Corporations-Trust Indenture-Notice To Security Holders Of Contents Of Indenture
Michigan Law Review
Ever since corporate bonds made their appearance more than a century ago, there has been a steady increase in difficult problems relating thereto. Not the least interesting of these problems pertains to the matter of notice to holders of the bonds and other securities of the contents of the indenture under which they are generally issued. The question becomes acute when one of these bondholders starts suit in law or in equity, and is met by the proposition that his right to so sue is limited by the trust indenture. There are two aspects to the matter, and it is …
Effects Of Inflation On Private Contracts: Germany, 1914-1924, John P. Dawson
Effects Of Inflation On Private Contracts: Germany, 1914-1924, John P. Dawson
Michigan Law Review
The German experience with inflation is unique not only in the magnitude of the ultimate disaster but in the wealth and variety of the record which it left behind. From that experience we may still learn much. The problems presented at successive stages of the German inflation differ in degree but not in kind from those which appear in any major shift in the general level of prices. The devices, legal and economic, for restoring an equilibrium thus destroyed must be essentially the same in any great country organized, as Germany was, for specialized, large-scale production. From a study of …
Constitutional Law - Force And Effect Of Clauses Providing For Payment Of Private Indebtedness In Gold
Michigan Law Review
Certain Belgium company bonds were issued providing for payment of interest "in sterling in gold coin of the United Kingdom of or equal to the weight and fineness existing on September 1, 1928." After England had left the gold: standard the issuing company sought to make interest payments in depreciated pounds. Plaintiff bondholder sought to enforce payment of sufficient depreciated currency to enable him to purchase on the day of payment gold in the same quantity as he would have received had payment been due September 1, 1928. The English House of Lords held for plaintiff, reversing the decision of …
Quasi-Contracts-Waiver Of Tort-Suit Against Governmental Agency
Quasi-Contracts-Waiver Of Tort-Suit Against Governmental Agency
Michigan Law Review
County officials forcibly ejected plaintiff from five acres of his land, harvested and used plaintiff's oat crop thereon, and converted the land into a road. Held, that although a county, being an agency of the State, is not liable in tort in the absence of statute, the tort may be waived and recovery allowed on the implied promise to pay for the taking of private property for public use without just compensation. Kerns v. Couch, (Or. 1932) 12 Pac. (2d) 1011.
Contracts -Anticipatory Breach - Recovery Of The Present Worth Of Unmatured Installments Of A Debt
Contracts -Anticipatory Breach - Recovery Of The Present Worth Of Unmatured Installments Of A Debt
Michigan Law Review
It is generally agreed that recovery may be had in one suit not only of the damages suffered up to the date of the writ but also of prospective damages for the non-performance of that which is not yet due, whenever a defendant has committed a partial material breach of an executory bilateral contract or of a unilateral contract to do something other than to pay a sum of money. The same conclusion is reached whenever a defendant has repudiated his promise after the time for beginning performance has arrived. These propositions are accepted even in those jurisdictions which do …
What Is A "Contract" Under The Contracts Clause Of The Federal Constitution?, Paul G. Kauper
What Is A "Contract" Under The Contracts Clause Of The Federal Constitution?, Paul G. Kauper
Michigan Law Review
The case of Coombes v. Getz, recently decided by the United States Supreme Court, raises in a crucial way the question of what is a contract within the meaning of Article I, section 10 of the Constitution, forbidding States to pass laws impairing the obligations of contracts. A provision of the California Constitution in force at the time the plaintiffs brought this action in the state court below made directors of corporations jointly and severally liable to the creditors and stockholders for all moneys embezzled or misappropriated by the officers of the corporation during the term of office of …
Assignment Of Money Claims (Particularly Wage Claims) - Restraint On Alienation
Assignment Of Money Claims (Particularly Wage Claims) - Restraint On Alienation
Michigan Law Review
If a contract has been performed on one side so that all that remains is an obligation to pay and a right to receive money, can the parties by agreement effectively prevent the assignment of the claim? The Illinois Supreme Court had this question before it for consideration in the case of State Street Furniture Co. v. Armour & Co., where the plaintiff was the assignee of wages due to an employee of the defendant, the employee having agreed not to assign his wages without the written consent of his employer. The court decided that the restrictive agreement had …
Contracts - Consideration - Agreement To Modify A Lease
Contracts - Consideration - Agreement To Modify A Lease
Michigan Law Review
Defendant leased from the plaintiff's assignor certain premises for a term of five years. After the lease was partially performed, the parties orally agreed to reduce the rent. The lessee, shortly before the expiration of the term, defaulted under the oral agreement. Plaintiff sued the defendant for the difference between the rent reserved and that which was paid under the oral agreement. Held, that an executed oral agreement, or so much of it as has been performed, will serve as a modification of a lease without regard to the presence or absence of consideration, but that which is executory …
Landlord And Tenant-Covenant Not To Assign Without Lessor's Consent
Landlord And Tenant-Covenant Not To Assign Without Lessor's Consent
Michigan Law Review
The growing practice of leasing important business property, especially for long terms, rather than of conveying the entire fee simple, has made increasingly important the devices inserted in such leases for the protection of the respective parties. One of the oldest and most common of these, for the protection of the lessor, is the covenant by the lessee that he will not assign the term without the consent of the lessor.
Recent Important Decisions
Michigan Law Review
A collection of recent important court decisions.