Law Commons^™

Adapting Private Law For Climate Change Adaptation, Jim Rossi, J. B. Ruhl

Vanderbilt Law Review

The private law of torts, property, and contracts will and should play an important role in resolving disputes regarding how private individuals and entities respond to and manage the harms of climate change that cannot be avoided through mitigation (known in climate change policy dialogue as “adaptation”). While adaptation is commonly presented as a problem needing legislative solutions, this Article presents a novel and overdue case for private law to take climate adaptation seriously.

To date, the role of private law is a significant blind spot in scholarly discussions of climate adaptation. Litigation invoking common-law doctrines in climate adaption disputes …

What’S In The Contract?: Rockefeller, The Hague Service Convention, And Serving Process Abroad, Thomas G. Vanderbeek

Vanderbilt Law Review

Today’s global economy relies on transnational commerce. The Convention on the Service Abroad of Judicial and Extrajudicial Documents in Civil or Commercial Matters (“Hague Service Convention”), implemented in 1965, encouraged transnational commerce by establishing a streamlined mechanism for serving foreign parties with process. More reliable international service methods helped ensure parties that they could resolve disputes with foreign parties through the courts. The Hague Service Convention thus created a bridge between civil and common law procedures on service while reducing some of the risks of engaging in business with foreign parties.

At the same time, the Hague Service Convention frequently …

Breaching The Mortgage Contract: The Behavioral Economics Of Strategic Default, Tess Wilkinson-Ryan

Vanderbilt Law Review

Underwater homeowners face a quandary: Should they make their monthly payments as promised or walk away and save money? Traditional economic analysis predicts that homeowners will strategically default (voluntarily enter foreclosure) when it is cheaper to do so than to keep paying down the mortgage debt. But this prediction ignores the moral calculus of default, which is arguably much less straightforward. On the one hand, most people have moral qualms about breaching their contracts, even when the financial incentives are clear. On the other hand, the nature of the lender-borrower relationship is changing and mortgage lenders are increasingly perceived as …

Written Agreements In The Lender-Borrower Context: The Illusion Of Certainty, Robert D. Rowe

Vanderbilt Law Review

Recent legal battles in the lender-borrower arena have received widespread attention. The fact that these battles occur merits little surprise because borrowers often seek recourse against lenders when financial commitments go awry. Moreover, recent lender-borrower cases do not introduce any new legal theories. The outcome is the noteworthy feature of these cases. Borrowers increasingly are obtaining judgments against lenders. This Note examines recent lender-borrower cases from a contractual perspective, analyzing the application of traditional contract principles in the lender-borrower context. Part II of this Note contends that courts are trying to address three concerns in the lender-borrower context: maintenance of …

The Chaos Of The "Battle Of The Forms": Solutions, John E. Murray, Jr.

Vanderbilt Law Review

Whatever may be said of the lack of certainty, stability, and predictability in many areas of the law, chaos rarely is discovered. Unfortunately, we have now reached that point in matters involving attempts by innumerable buyers and sellers to make contracts through an exchange of printed forms. Because printed forms will continue to be the written evidence of the overwhelming majority of attempted contracts in America,' this chaos threatens the institution of contract in our society. There should be no doubt that"chaos" is an accurate characterization of the state of the law in the "battle of the forms" arena. Courts …

Communist China's Foreign Trade Contracts And Means Of Settling Disputes, Gene T. Hsiao

Vanderbilt Law Review

International trade involves a host of legal problems. Basic among these are the institution of contracts and the principles of settling disputes. Nations may enter into trade treaties and agreements to define and regulate their commercial relations, but actual transactions are always concluded on the basis of contracts. In the case of disputes arising from these contracts, the parties often resort to conciliatory or arbitrary means instead of court litigation. Communist China has over the course of the past eighteen years established trade relations with more than 120 countries and regions. In so doing, the Peking regime has relied upon …

Communist China's Foreign Trade Organization, Gene T. Hsiao

Vanderbilt Law Review

Although as of October 1966 Communist China has been diplomatically recognized by only fifty countries' and thus still remains outside the world legal community, it has trade relations with more than 120 countries and regions. The annual volume of Peking's foreign trade has been estimated at 2.96 billion dollars in 1963 and 4.5 billion dollars in 1966. The latest Western reports from Peking indicate that foreign buyers and sellers see in "China's 700 million people a market with dazzling prospects and a potential source "of supply of goods they can market profitably in their countries." The official organ of the …

Discharge In The "Law" Of Arbitration, Roland P. Wilder Jr.

Vanderbilt Law Review

The vast majority of arbitrators will refuse to find just cause unless the discharge penalty bears some reasonable relation to the seriousness of the grievant's offense. They believe it to be their responsibility to determine whether the "punishment fits the crime" by realistically appraising the wrongful act's deleterious effects on the industrial community. If the grievant's proven offense appears to merit discipline short of discharge, the arbitrator usually will feel compelled to modify the discharge penalty in favor of some lesser degree of discipline. Since this amounts to a review of the penalty imposed by management, there is a substantial …

Contracts -- 1964 Tennessee Survey, Paul I. Hartman

Vanderbilt Law Review

I. Promissory Estoppel--Application by Federal Court

II. Third Party Beneficiary--Enforcement of Labor and Material Bond

III. Statute of Frauds--Statute as Defense to Third Party

IV. Parol Evidence Rule--Application to Extrensic Subsequent Agreement

V. Illegal Bargains--Agreement Not to Compete

VI. Death of Party to Personal Service Contract as Terminating the Contract

Contracts -- 1963 Tennessee Survey, Paul J. Hartman

Vanderbilt Law Review

Both the one year provision and the sale of goods provision of the Statute of Frauds were construed in Anderson-Gregory Co. v. Lea.'Regarding the duration of the contract, the facts in the opinion are somewhat sparse... The court held that the contract did not come within this provision of the statute. If a contract could have been performed, under its terms, within a year from the time of its making, it is not within the Statute of Frauds, even though it is improbable that the contract would be performed within a year.

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The Tennessee Supreme Court case of Oman …

Contracts -- 1962 Tennessee Survey, Paul I. Hartman

Vanderbilt Law Review

I. Revival of a Debt Barred by Statute of Limitations --An Acknowledgement by Debtor that He Owes the Debt as a Revival of the Cause of Action

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II. Rules for Determining Priority of Right Where Successive Assignees Competing for Same Claim --Applicability of those Rules in Contest Between an Assignee and Debtor whose obligation has been assigned

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III. Breach of Contract--Necessity for Tender of Performance by Promisee where Promisor cannot perform -- Rights of Promisee against Third Party inducing Breach of Contract

Trade Regulation -- 1961 Tennessee Survey (Ii), Leo I. Raskind

Vanderbilt Law Review

This field of law, not previously treated independently in the annual survey, is designated as Trade Regulation or alternatively as Government or Public Control of Business. In the limit, this body of doctrine is an amalgam of tort and contract principles bearing the impress of the equity practice. These distinct principles are now embodied in both state and federal statutes as the foundations of legal control over competitive commercial conduct. Their scope extends, with different emphasis, from public utility rate regulation to a variety of aspects of market structure and conduct in the unregulated sector of the economy. The principal …

Book Reviews, Law Review Staff

Vanderbilt Law Review

Decision at Law

By David W. Peck.

New York: Dodd, Mead & Co.,1961. Pp. vii, 303.

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Corporation Lawyer: Saint or Sinner? By Beryl Harold Levy.

Philadelphia and New York: Chilton Co., 1961. Pp. x, 175.

reviewer: Elliott E. Cheatham

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Criminal Psychology Edited by Richard W. Nice. New York: Philosophical Library, Inc., 1962. Pp. 284.

reviewer: J. Paschall Davis

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Symposium on the Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act of 1959 Edited by Ralph Slovenko. Baton Rouge: Claitor's Bookstore, 1961. Pp. xliv, 1237. $20.00.

reviewer: Robert N. Covington

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Handling Accident Cases, Vol. 3

By Albert Averbach.

Rochester: The Lawyers …

Agency -- 1961 Tennessee Survey, Elvin E. Overton

Vanderbilt Law Review

The topic "agency" includes the areas of "master and servant" as well as those of "principal and agent." There were few cases in these areas decided by the Tennessee courts during the period under survey. Generally, basic principles were applied to routine cases.In certain instances the reliance upon a prior fact determination avoided the necessity of an elaborate treatment of the facts. In one or two cases the court reached a result that may not be deemed desirable though supported by much authority. Significant points received less attention than they deserved in certain cases. In one case the basic question …

Constitutional Law -- 1961 Tennessee Survey, James C. Kirby, Jr.

Vanderbilt Law Review

Although a relatively small number of cases turned upon constitutional questions during the survey period, some important decisions were handed down in this area. In five separate decisions legislation was declared unconstitutional. The impact of the constitutional decisions varies from the right to millions of dollars in school funds in Shelby County and the salary of the clerk of General Sessions Court of Clay County to approval of permanent tenure for all franchised automobile dealers in the state. The scope of governmental power over the administration of estates, condemnation of private property and the pursuit of private businesses brought forth …

Contracts -- 1961 Tennessee Survey, Paul J. Hartman

Vanderbilt Law Review

I. Offer and Acceptance--Notification of Acceptance Before Notification of Revocation--Duration of Offer with Fixed Expiration Date

II. Implied and Quasi Contract--Claim for Services Where Family Relationship Involved

III. Parol Evidence Rule--Application of Rule to Third Party Not a Party to the Written Instrument--Pre-existing Duty as Consideration

IV. Exculpatory Contracts--Contracting Against Liability for Consequences of Own Negligent Conduct

V. Agreement in Restraint of Trade-Agreement of Seller of Business Not to Compete--Enforcement of Restraint in Area Greater than Required to Protect Purchaser

Recent Cases, Law Review Staff

Vanderbilt Law Review

Recent Cases

Conflict of Laws--Implied Warranties Governed by Law of the State Most Closely Associated with the Contract

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Constitutional Law--Due Process--Absolute Statutory Prohibition of the Use of Contraceptives Not a Violation of Rights Secured by Fourteenth Amendment

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Constitutional Law--Freedoms of Speech and Press--Ordinance Prohibiting Distribution of Handbills Without Identification of Author Violates Fourteenth Amendment

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Contracts--Termination--Employment for Indefinite Duration not Terminable for Refusal of Employee to Commit Perjury

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Evidence--Federal Courts--Evidence Obtained by State Officers Through Unreasonable Search and Seizure Inadmissible in Federal Courts

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Judgments--Limitation of Overruling Decision to Parties Before the Court and to Causes of …

Creditors' Rights And Security Transactions -- 1960 Tennessee Survey, Forrest W. Lacey

Vanderbilt Law Review

Two cases involving mechanic's liens were decided during the period under survey. Rowland v. Lowe' presented the question of the validity of a material men's lien against the owner of land subject to a contract of sale which required the purchaser to erect improvements on the land. In order to protect the vendor's lien, which was to be retained in the deed, the contract provided:

"The purchaser obligates himself to pay all sums for labor and materials in the construction of the improvements on said lot, and in no event shall there be any lien on the lot of ground …

Overlapping Coverages In Liability Contracts; Subrogation, John A. Appleman

Vanderbilt Law Review

Within the last twenty-five years, approximately, a considerable transition has taken place in approaching the coverages of automobile policies. At one time, liability insurers used to require their policy-holders to pledge that they did not carry other insurance of like character. It is difficult to understand why this situation ever arose. It may have been an outgrowth of fire coverages, or health and accident provisions, in which a moral hazard actually might exist where excessive protection is carried. Thereafter, instead of making this a matter of warranty, policies frequently provided that in the event there should be any other valid …

Business Associations -- 1960 Tennessee Survey, Kenneth L. Roberts

Vanderbilt Law Review

Two opinions of the court of appeals during the survey period-one unpublished-discussed the fiduciary duties owing by officers and directors to their corporations. In Harriman Welding Supply Co. v. Lake City Lightweight Aggregate Corp.,' Presiding Judge McAmis of the eastern section found occasion to state the principles applicable when the fairness of contracts between two corporations having interlocking directorates is questioned.

Recent Cases, Law Review Staff

Vanderbilt Law Review

Recent Cases:

CONTRACTS--CONFLICT OF INTERESTS--GOVERNMENT EXPERT'S PRINCIPAL EMPLOYMENT INSUFFICIENT TO VOID CONTRACT ON GROUNDS OF PUBLIC POLICY

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CRIMINAL LAW-ATTEMPT-CONVICTION OF ATTEMPT TO RECEIVE PROPERTY NOT IN FACT STOLEN

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DOMESTIC RELATIONS-UNIFORM RECIPROCAL ENFORCEMENT OF SUPPORT ACT--RELIEF FROM-EXTRADITION UPON PETITION OF THE OBLIGOR

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EVIDENCE-ADMISSIONS--GUILTY PLEA TO TRAFFIC LAW VIOLATION INADMISSIBLE IN SUBSEQUENT CIVIL SUIT

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FEDERAL JURISDICTION AND PROCEDURE--DIVERSITY JURISDICTION--ABSTENTION BY FEDERAL COURT FROM THE EXERCISE OF JURISDICTION IN DIVERSITY CASE

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LABOR LAW--LABOR--MANAGEMENT RELATIONS ACT-STATE COURT PRE-EMPTED FROM ENFORCING GRIEVANCE PROCEDURES OF COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT

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PROFESSION OF LAW--BAR ASSOCIATION MAY NOT DISCIPLINE AN ATTORNEY FOR CONDUCT AS …

Contracts -- 1959 Tennessee Survey, Paul J. Hartman

Vanderbilt Law Review

The distinction between an implied contract (implied in fact) and a quasi contract (implied in law) was presented in a somewhat unusual fashion in the federal case of Holbert v. United States decided by the District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee. Whether or not a federal district court had jurisdiction over plaintiff's case turned on whether the claim was based on implied contract or on quasi contract.

One of the grounds on which the Tucker Act confers jurisdiction on federal district courts to entertain actions against the United States is where the claim is based "upon any express …

Book Reviews, Robert B. Looper, Ralph Slovenko

Vanderbilt Law Review

Cases and Materials on Restitution By John W. Wade Brooklyn: The Foundation Press, Inc., 1958. Pp. xxxi, 903. $11.00.

reviewer: Robert B. Looper

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Equal Justice for the Accused By a Special Committee of The Association of the Bar of the City of New York and The National Legal Aid Association New York: Doubleday & Co., 1959. Pp. 144. $3.50.

reviewer: Ralph Slovenko

Preparation And Presentation Of An Arbitration Case, Joseph S. Murphy

Vanderbilt Law Review

This article deals primarily with the preparation and presentation of a case in labor arbitration. However, much of what is said here is equally applicable to the preparation and presentation of a commercial case. It is clear that the comments with regard to documents, witnesses, orderly presentation, and the like are basically the same whether one is arguing that a construction contract has been breached and that the fault lies with the contractor who was guilty of delayed construction, or whether one is defending against a charge of vio- lation of an overtime clause dealing with equal distribution. In each …

Recent Cases, Law Review Staff

Vanderbilt Law Review

Recent Cases

Constitutional Law--Equal Protection--Automatic Reversion of Land to Grant or Upon Use by Non-Whites

Constitutional Law--Federal Eminent Domain--Potentiality for Water Power Development as Element of Compensation

Contracts--Place of Making--Acceptance by Instantaneous Means of Communication

Insurance--Automobile Liability Omnibus Clause-Coverage of Sub-Permitee

Insurance--Insurer's Right of Subrogation--Waiver by Refusal to Pay Claim

Master and Servant--Borrowed Servant Doctrine--Contract as Proof of Assumption of Control

Wills--Anti-Lapse Statutes--Beneficiaries of Class Gift Dead at Will's Execution

Contracts (Herein Of Agency) -- 1955 Tennessee Survey, Merton L. Ferson

Vanderbilt Law Review

Offer and Acceptance: Listing Property for Sale With Broker: In Jenkins v. Vaughan' the facts were these: Vaughan had a drug store for sale. He gave Jenkins, a broker, an exclusive listing for 90 days and promised to pay Jenkins a commission if the property were sold within that time "either through you or any other reason." This listing was made October 10, 1951. On December 10, 1951, Vaughan directed an employee of Jenkins to cancel the listing. And on December 28 Vaughan sold the store to a purchaser procured by another broker. Jenkins had not spent any appreciable time …

Contracts -- 1954 Tennessee Survey, Merton L. Ferson

Vanderbilt Law Review

Mutual Assents: In the case of Jones v. Horner it appeared that Jones was a tenant of Mrs. Homer. The lease gave Jones an option to purchase the property for a stated price and provided that Jones might exercise his option "by payment or tender of the agreed purchase price." Jones, within the life of the option, without tendering the purchase price, gave notice that he would exercise the option. He said he would pay the purchase price upon receipt of a deed to the property. Mrs. Homer refused to treat this notice as a valid exercise of the option. …

Recent Cases, Law Review Staff

Vanderbilt Law Review

Contracts--Ceiling Price Legislation--Effect upon Performance

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Evidence--Declarations against Interest--Third-Party Confessions

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Family Law--Loss of Consortium of the Parent--Right of Child to Recover Against a Negligent Defendant

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Federal Procedure--Statutory Construction--Meaning of "Mentally Incompetent"

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Income Taxation--Surrender of Lease--Capital Gain to Lessee

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Income Taxation--Taxable Stock Dividend--Treasury Stock Held for Investment

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Judgment--Suit to Vacate--Insufficient Allegations of Cruelty Void Divorce Decree

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Labor Law--Filing Requirements--Noncompliance at Time Charges Filed

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Municipal Corporations--Liability for Negligence--Operation of Swimming Pool for Profit

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Process--Constructive Service--Tort Action Arising Without State

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Torts--Res Ipsa Loquitur--Application To Disappearing Airplane

Recent Cases, Law Review Staff

Vanderbilt Law Review

RECENT CASES

CONTRACTS--CONSIDERATION--AGREEMENT TO SUPPORT ILLEGITIMATE CHILD

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CONTRIBUTION--JOINT TORTFEASORS--REMEDY GRANTED

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CONTRIBUTION--JOINT TORTFEASORS--REMEDY GRANTED WHEN TORT CONSISTS OF NEGLIGENCE

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CREDITORS' RIGHTS--RECEIVERSHIP OF OPERATING BUSINESS--CHATTEL, MORTGAGEE ENTITLED TO FORECLOSURE RATHER THAN SMALLER MONTHLY PAYMENTS ORDERED BY COURT

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EVIDENCE--DEAD MAN STATUTE--OBSERVATION OF PHYSICAL CONDITIONS NOT A "TRANSACTION" WITHIN MEANING OF STATUTE

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EVIDENCE--JUDICIAL NOTICE--TENETS OF COMMUNIST PARTY

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FEDERAL COURTS--HABEAS CORPUS IN EXTRADITION PROCEEDINGS--NECESSITY OF EXHAUSTING REMEDIES IN STATE COURTS

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IMPLIED WARRANTY--WARRANTY OF SEAWORTHINESS--WARRANTY WITHOUT A SALE

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NEGLIGENCE OF LANDOWNER--PERSON TAKING SHORTCUT THROUGH STORE--LICENSEE OR BUSINESS GUEST?

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RES JUDICATA--INDEMNITOR-INDEMNITEE RELATIONSHIP AS EXCEPTION TO REQUREMENT OF MUTUALITY--CREATION …

Arbitrability Under Collective Bargaining Agreements, Clyde H. Brockett Jr., William Merlin

Vanderbilt Law Review

Under many collective bargaining contracts calling for arbitration of disputes, sooner or later a question has arisen whether the arbitrator has authority and power to arbitrate a particular issue. While this is obviously an oversimplification, it is a statement of the problem of arbitrability. Involuntary arbitration of labor disputes the question of the "scope of arbitration" may arise in either of two situations: (1) in the formulation of new contracts; or (2) in the disposition of grievances under existing contracts. This Note will consider only arbitration of the latter type.