Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Law Commons

Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Courts

Michigan Law Review

Liability

Articles 1 - 13 of 13

Full-Text Articles in Law

Respondent Superior As An Affirmative Defense: How Employers Immunize Themselves From Direct Negligence Claims, J. J. Burns Jan 2011

Respondent Superior As An Affirmative Defense: How Employers Immunize Themselves From Direct Negligence Claims, J. J. Burns

Michigan Law Review

Most courts hold that where a defendant employer admits that it is vicariously liable for its employee's negligence, a plaintiff's additional claims of negligent entrustment, hiring, retention, supervision, and training must be dismissed. Generally, courts apply this rule based on the logic that allowing a plaintiff's additional claims adds no potential liability beyond that which has already been admitted. Furthermore, since the additional claims merely allege a redundant theory of recovery once a respondeat superior admission has been made, the prejudicial evidence of an employee's prior bad acts which often accompanies direct negligence claims against employers can be excluded without …


The Pathological Politics Of Criminal Law, William J. Stuntz Dec 2001

The Pathological Politics Of Criminal Law, William J. Stuntz

Michigan Law Review

Substantive criminal law defines the conduct that the state punishes. Or does it? If the answer is yes, it should be possible, by reading criminal codes (perhaps with a few case annotations thrown in), to tell what conduct will land you in prison. Most discussions of criminal law, whether in law reviews, law school classrooms, or the popular press, proceed on the premise that the answer is yes. Law reform movements regularly seek to broaden or narrow the scope of some set of criminal liability rules, always on the assumption that by doing so they will broaden or narrow the …


Federal Courts-Use Of A Cross-Claim Under Rule 13(G) Of The Federal Rules Of Civil Procedure, Rex Eames S.Ed. Nov 1950

Federal Courts-Use Of A Cross-Claim Under Rule 13(G) Of The Federal Rules Of Civil Procedure, Rex Eames S.Ed.

Michigan Law Review

Under an ordinary automobile insurance policy, P insurance company promised to defend and indemnify Harvey for any suit arising from an accident involving his use of the insured truck. Collier sued Harvey in a state court alleging injuries due to the negligent use of the insured truck by two Harvey employees. Before judgment thereon, P, incorporated under the laws of Wisconsin, sued Harvey and Collier, citizens of Oklahoma, in the federal court. P sought a declaratory judgment on the grounds that (a) at the time of the accident the employees were under the control and supervision of the City …


Courts-Validity Of Contracts Restricting Venue In Actions Under The Federal Employers' Liability Act, John C. Walker S. Ed. Feb 1950

Courts-Validity Of Contracts Restricting Venue In Actions Under The Federal Employers' Liability Act, John C. Walker S. Ed.

Michigan Law Review

Petitioner suffered injuries in the course of his duties as an employee of respondent railroad. Subsequently, respondent advanced money to petitioner and the latter agreed in writing that if his claim could not be settled he would sue only in the county or district where he resided at the time of the injury, or in the county or district where the injury was sustained. This agreement restricted petitioner's choice of venue to either a state or federal court sitting in Michigan. Ignoring the contract, petitioner sued in an Illinois court. Respondent then brought suit in the Michigan courts to enjoin …


Constitutional Law-Due Process-Punishment For Direct Contempt Of Court, William R. Worth Jun 1949

Constitutional Law-Due Process-Punishment For Direct Contempt Of Court, William R. Worth

Michigan Law Review

Opposing counsel's objection to material in petitioner's opening statement to the jury was sustained. When petitioner rephrased his statement, the trial court, feeling that he was still trying to get inadmissible material before the jury, threatened to "declare a mistrial if you mess with me two minutes and a half, and fine you besides.'' Petitioner took an exception to the conduct of the court, and was immediately fined $25. His protests led to successive increases in penalty, culminating in a $100 fine and three days in jail. The Supreme Court of Texas denied habeas corpus on the ground that the …


Appeal And Error-Right Of Defendant To New Trial Where Plaintiff Is Entitled To All Or None And Verdict Is Intermediate, Bruce L. Moore S.Ed. Jun 1948

Appeal And Error-Right Of Defendant To New Trial Where Plaintiff Is Entitled To All Or None And Verdict Is Intermediate, Bruce L. Moore S.Ed.

Michigan Law Review

In an action on an express contrast, plaintiff sued for $1750, representing the agreed 5 per cent commission on the sale of real estate. Defendant denied the validity of the contract, and there was no issue as to the amount of liability if liability existed. The instruction to the jury was that plaintiff was entitled to 5 per cent commission if entitled to recover. The jury returned a verdict for $875, half the amount claimed. Defendant's motion for a new trial was denied. Held, although the verdict was unauthorized as to plaintiff, there was no error as to defendant …


Federal Courts--Third-Party "Practice--Some Jurisdictional Problems Arising Under The Amended Federal Rules Of Civil Procedure, Effective March 19, 1948, Chester Lloyd Jones S.Ed. Jun 1948

Federal Courts--Third-Party "Practice--Some Jurisdictional Problems Arising Under The Amended Federal Rules Of Civil Procedure, Effective March 19, 1948, Chester Lloyd Jones S.Ed.

Michigan Law Review

Third-party practice as originally adopted by the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure was one of the bolder steps in the direction of integrated and complete litigation of all phases of a transaction. One of the principal problems that was forseen by the commentators and that has in fact developed in the cases is the jurisdictional limitation of the federal courts where no federal question is involved, and jurisdiction depends on diversity of citizenship or alienage. Rule 82 is explicit in stating that the Rules should be interpreted so as not to extend or limit the jurisdiction of the district courts. …


Abstracts, Katherine Kempfer Aug 1943

Abstracts, Katherine Kempfer

Michigan Law Review

The abstracts consist merely of summaries of the facts and holdings of recent cases and are distinguished from the notes by the absence of discussion.


Abstracts, Katherine Kempfer Feb 1943

Abstracts, Katherine Kempfer

Michigan Law Review

The abstracts consist merely of summaries of the facts and holdings of recent cases and are distinguished from the notes by the absence of discussion.


Federal Courts - Jurisdiction - Diversity Of Citizenship - Realignment Of Parties, Michigan Law Review May 1942

Federal Courts - Jurisdiction - Diversity Of Citizenship - Realignment Of Parties, Michigan Law Review

Michigan Law Review

Plaintiff, a New York corporation, was trustee under a mortgage deed to secure a bond issue executed by A, an Indiana corporation, in 1902. In 1906, B, an Indiana corporation, was formed, its franchise providing, inter alia, that after the expiration of twenty-five years, the company should be wound up and its property conveyed to C, the city of Indianapolis, subject to B's "outstanding legal obligations." In 1913, A leased all of its plant property to B for a term of ninety-nine years, B agreeing to pay as rental the interest on A's outstanding bonded …


Courts - Judicial Ethics - Broadcast Of Murder Trial, Michigan Law Review Jun 1938

Courts - Judicial Ethics - Broadcast Of Murder Trial, Michigan Law Review

Michigan Law Review

A microphone was installed in a court room with consent of the trial judge and counsel, for a direct broadcast of a murder trial. Prisoner's counsel, in his argument to the jury, made certain remarks concerning the plaintiff, state's witness, which the latter claimed were libelous per se. Joining as defendants the trial judge, counsel for the alleged felon, and the director of the radio station, plaintiff asserted that the installation of the equipment was an "extrajudicial and illegal" act. Defendant trial judge's motion for non-suit was granted at the close of plaintiff's case, The case was submitted to the …


Recent Important Decisions, Michigan Law Review Apr 1922

Recent Important Decisions, Michigan Law Review

Michigan Law Review

Admiralty - Workmen's Compensation - Is a Hydroplane a Vessel? - Claimant was employed in the care and management of a hydroplane which was moored in navigable waters. The hydroplane began to drag anchor and drift toward the beach, where it was in danger of being wrecked. Claimant waded into the water and was struck by the propeller. Held, claimant is not entitled to compensation under the Workmen's Compensation Law, since a hydroplane while on navigable waters is a vessel, and therefore the jurisdiction of the admiralty excludes that of the State Industrial Commission. Reinhardt v. Newport Flying Service Corp. …


Damage Liability Of Charitable Institutions, Carl Zollman Feb 1921

Damage Liability Of Charitable Institutions, Carl Zollman

Michigan Law Review

The question of the liability of charitable institutions to actions for damages presents great difficulties. This is not due how- -ever to a lack of cases. The question has peculiarly "engaged the attention of the bench and bar of the country. The problem has been scrutinized from every conceivable viewpoint. The arguments for and against have well nigh been exhausted, and little, if anything, new remains to be advanced".' In their opinions the courts have frequently gone back to certain English cases disregarding the points decided but stressing certain dicta which have been uttered by the judges which decided them. …