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Full-Text Articles in Law
Disentangling Michigan Court Rule 6.502(G)(2): The "New Evidence" Exception To The Ban On Successive Motions For Relief From Judgment Does Not Contain A Discoverability Requirement, Claire V. Madill
Michigan Law Review
Michigan courts are engaging in a costly interpretative mistake. Confused by the relationship between two distinct legal doctrines, Michigan courts are conflating laws in a manner that precludes convicted defendants from raising their constitutional claims in postconviction proceedings. In Michigan, a convicted defendant who wishes to collaterally attack her conviction must file a 6.500 motion. The Michigan Court Rules generally prohibit “second or subsequent” motions. Nonetheless, section 6.502(G)(2) permits a petitioner to avoid this successive motion ban if her claim relies on “new evidence that was not discovered” before her original postconviction motion. Misguided by the similarity between the language …
Evidence-Privilege-Use Of Privileged Accident Report To Refresh Officer's Recollection, David D. Dowd, Jr. S.Ed.
Evidence-Privilege-Use Of Privileged Accident Report To Refresh Officer's Recollection, David D. Dowd, Jr. S.Ed.
Michigan Law Review
Plaintiff, a passenger in an automobile, recovered a judgment for injuries received in a collision. Defendants' motion to exclude testimony of the police officer investigating the accident as to admissions of the driver was overruled by the trial court. Defendants contended that the required accident report filed by the defendant driver was privileged by statute, and therefore the testimony of the officer was inadmissible. On appeal, held, reversed on other grounds. It was proper for the officer to testify as to the defendant driver's admissions even if it was necessary for him to refresh his recollection of these admissions …
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 …
Evidence - Constitutional Law - Use Of Statutory Presumptions In Criminal Cases, Edward M. Watson
Evidence - Constitutional Law - Use Of Statutory Presumptions In Criminal Cases, Edward M. Watson
Michigan Law Review
The recent efforts on the part of state legislatures to increase the effectiveness of their criminal codes has resulted in extending the use of the statutory presumption to new fields of criminal law. The reaction which necessarily follows such an innovation upon traditional practice has appeared in the form of renewed attacks upon the constitutionality of the device, accompanied by the usual expressions of alarm concerning the "threat to liberty" that lurks in the use of this "mechanistic" instrument of "arbitrary oppression."
Appeal And Error - Harmless And Prejudicial Error, Michigan Law Review
Appeal And Error - Harmless And Prejudicial Error, Michigan Law Review
Michigan Law Review
In the trial of defendant for embezzlement, the prosecutor's opening address to the jury included a hearsay statement, regarding a tacit admission by defendant, tending to establish his guilt. Subsequently in the trial such hearsay statement was not allowed in evidence and the defendant now claims on appeal from conviction that the opening statement was prejudicial and thus he is entitled to a new trial. Held, that the statute governing reversals by an appellate court for prejudicial errors did not apply; and that a new trial follows as a matter of course because of a deprivation of the constitutional …
Bills And Notes - Consideration - Burden Of Proof When Holder Not A Holder In Due Course, Robert Meisenholder
Bills And Notes - Consideration - Burden Of Proof When Holder Not A Holder In Due Course, Robert Meisenholder
Michigan Law Review
Plaintiff, a maid and housekeeper for the decedent, sued the decedent's estate as payee of two checks signed by the decedent and dishonored by the drawee bank. In support of the defense of lack of consideration, the estate introduced evidence that plaintiff had been paid by the estate for her services to the decedent, and that plaintiff's daughter had told the bank's cashier that the checks had been given to her mother by decedent to be cashed when it became certain that decedent would not live. There was no other evidence. Held, the trial court properly directed a verdict …
Contracts - Liability Of The Assignee Of A Land Contract - Reformation By Extrinsic Evidence
Contracts - Liability Of The Assignee Of A Land Contract - Reformation By Extrinsic Evidence
Michigan Law Review
Defendant Campbell assigned a contract to purchase land from the plaintiff to the defendant bank, the evidence being undisputed that the assignment was additional security for an existing indebtedness of Campbell. A printed form containing a promise by the assignee to pay the purchase price was used. The name of the assignee was left blank in order that the name of a prospective purchaser could be filled in if an anticipated sale materialized. In an action to foreclose the land contract the vendor asked for a deficiency judgment against the defendant bank. Held, that the vendor was not entitled …
Searches And Seizures - Reasonableness Of Arrest - Use Of Evidence Secured Through Unreasonable Arrest- Statutory Changes
Michigan Law Review
Police officers patrolling Detroit streets in a radio-equipped police car stopped a taxicab in which defendants Stein and Massie were riding. From the statement of the court, the officers' attention was attracted to the cab "because it was 'driving pretty fast,' about 32 miles per hour." The police car pursued it for a block or more; as it drew abreast of the cab defendant Stein was seen to reach into his pocket as if to take something out and put it behind him. "There was something about the cab, probably aside from its speed, which suggested to officer Sullivan that …
Presumptions - Constitutional Validity Of Statute Establishing Proof Of Reputation As Prima Facie Evidence Of Commission Of Crime
Michigan Law Review
The rise and sway of the gangster as a menace to American social and economic security has led, of late, to the employment of unique means of combating lawlessness. Faced by a tremendous increase in the difficulties lying in the path of those seeking the conviction of professional criminals for major crimes, the police and prosecutors often turn towards a means of fighting crime originally devised to make life uncomfortable for petty off enders. The enforcement of the pistol laws and the vagrancy statutes against millionaire gangsters, and repeated arrests on suspicion, have been resorted to as a means of …
Evidence - Burden Of Proof - Compliance With Stipulation In Bill Of Lading As To Time For Claim Of Loss
Michigan Law Review
P purchased potatoes in Michigan. He instructed the defendant railroad to deliver the potatoes to the warehouse of B when they should arrive in Richmond. Instead, some were sent to another warehouse. Before P discovered the mistake, the potatoes had spoiled. P made claim of loss six months and twenty days after the shipment left Michigan. The bill of lading provided: "Sec. 2 (b). Claims for loss or damage . . . must be made in writing . . . within six months after a reasonable time for delivery has elapsed." The testimony of Neiss, freight clerk, who was called …
Practice And Procedure - Demurrer To Evidence - Directing Verdict In Favor Of Party Having Burden Of Proof
Michigan Law Review
P purchased potatoes in Michigan. He instructed the defendant railroad to deliver the potatoes to the warehouse of B when they should arrive in Richmond. Instead, some were sent to another warehouse. Before P discovered the mistake, the potatoes spoiled. P made claim of loss six months and twenty days after the shipment left Michigan. The bill of lading provided that claims for loss or damage must be made in writing within six months after a reasonable time for delivery has elapsed. The testimony of Neiss, freight clerk, who was called by the defendant, was to the effect that eight …
Witnesses-Refreshing Memory-Past Recollection
Witnesses-Refreshing Memory-Past Recollection
Michigan Law Review
Action on a claimed oral renewal of a burglary insurance policy. Nearly six months after the alleged renewal W made an affidavit stating that she heard defendant's agent tell plaintiff that plaintiff's policy had been renewed. This affidavit was drawn up by plaintiff's attorney. On the trial eight years later W was unable to recall any such conversation and the affidavit did not refresh her memory. The court over objection admitted the affidavit itself in evidence. Held, since the affidavit was not made at or near the time of the event recorded, and was drawn up by one of …