Law Commons^™

Law Triangle: Arbitrating International Reinsurance Disputes, J. L. Murphy

Vanderbilt Journal of Transnational Law

The McCarran-Ferguson Act was enacted to preserve the longstanding prerogative of the States to regulate the insurance industry. States have acted in accordance with this statute to declare arbitration agreements in insurance contracts invalid. However, the Senate has since ratified the New York Convention and appended implementing legislation to the Federal Arbitration Act that obligates domestic courts to recognize arbitration agreements in all international contracts. In an odd convergence of authority, a functional conflict arises between these three bodies of law: the federal law says that state law controls in this area, even over other federal law that might incidentally …

The Montreal Convention: Can Passengers Finally Recover For Mental Injuries?, Mckay Cunningham

Vanderbilt Journal of Transnational Law

Since the 1920s, recovery for accidents suffered on international flights has been subject to the Warsaw Convention's limitation of "bodily injury." To address perceived inequities stemming from this limitation, some courts invoked a liberal interpretation of the phrase "bodily injury," and the resulting and fragmented judicial precedent threatened the treaty's goal of international uniformity. Although Warsaw's long-awaited replacement, the Montreal Convention, retains the "bodily injury" language, a close study of the treaty's history and, more importantly, the negotiations among the signatories' delegates suggests that the great majority of nations intended to broaden the allowable recovery beyond strict bodily injury and …

Insurance In The People's Republic Of China: Laws And Practice, Henry R. Zheng

Vanderbilt Journal of Transnational Law

The insurance industry in the People's Republic of China (PRC) has expanded rapidly during the past several years. Since the end of 1979 when domestic insurance was reestablished, the income generated from insurance business has been increasing at a rate of over forty-four percent annually.' By early 1987, over 500,000 enterprises and business entities utilized property insurance and about 34 million people purchased personal insurance; during the first half of 1986 the total insurance earnings from the People's Insurance Company of China alone reached a record high of over 2.33 billion yuan. In the meantime, the insurance business has become …

Case Digest, Law Review Staff

Vanderbilt Journal of Transnational Law

RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS AND MEMBERS OF CLERGY OF VARIOUS DENOMINATIONS LACK STANDING TO CHALLENGE ADOPTION AND IMPLEMENTATION OF DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS WITH THE VATICAN

--Americans United for Separation of Church and State v. Reagan, 786 F.2d 194 (3d Cir.1986)

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EVEN THOUGH PROCEEDINGS IN THE FOREIGN FORUM MAY TAKE MORE TIME AND MAY YIELD A SMALLER RECOVERY THAN PROCEEDING IN THE UNITED STATES FORUM, THE FOREIGN FORUM MAY BE CONSIDERED AN ADEQUATE FORUM FOR THE PURPOSES OF THE FORRUM NON CONVENIENS DOCTRINE

--De Melo v. Lederle Laboratories, 801 F.2d 1058 (8th Cir. 1986)

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ASSERTION OF PERSONAL JURISDICTION IN CALIFORNIA OVER AN …

Case Digest, Law Review Stafrf

Vanderbilt Journal of Transnational Law

Pursuant to the United States-France Estate Tax Treaty, the estate of a United States citizen who was domiciled in France is liable to the United States for taxes on real property located in France at rates effective when the citizen died provided the estate receives credit for the estate taxes paid to France

Norstar Bank of Upstate New York v. United States,644 F. Supp. 1112 (N.D.N.Y. 1986).

Political Question

Doctrine bars judicial consideration of claims that the United States mines placed in the Nicaraguan harbor of Corinto damaged a Norwegian ship. Krig-sforsikring for Skib, gjensidingforening (The Norwegian War Risk Insurance …

Venezuela Revisited: Foreign Investment, Technology, And Related Issues, Robert J. Radway, Franklin T. Hoet-Linares

Vanderbilt Journal of Transnational Law

A brief history of foreign investment in Venezuela is necessary to understand recent changes in Venezuelan foreign investment policy. The development of selected industrial sectors, including principally petroleum and mining, but also agriculture, electric power, manufacturing, banking, and insurance, has played a significant role in shaping Venezuelan foreign investment policy. The laws, policies, and their application can then be reviewed in practical terms to provide the practitioner with an understanding of the stated objectives of the host government within the context of Third World movements toward greater control over economic activities.

The Troublesome Workings Of The Judgments Convention Of The European Economic Community, Errol P. Mendes

Vanderbilt Journal of Transnational Law

The problems involved in the jurisdiction by consent provisions in article seventeen and the special rules for insurance claims in articles seven through fifteen have to some extent been dealt with by the provisions of the Judgments Accession Convention as have the problems arising under the hire purchase and credit sale transactions. Nevertheless, a comprehensive definition of the term "consumer sale" is needed from the European Court.

There can be little doubt that both lawyers and litigants who are affected by the Convention, would prefer to operate under the conflict of laws rules of their own nations which, although complex, …

Recent Decisions, Anne Markey, James F. Maddox, Thomas C. Eklund, Thomas F. Taylor, Ralph Vinciguerra, Clark Mervis

Vanderbilt Journal of Transnational Law

Admiralty--Damages in a Maritime Collision or Stranding Caused by Mutual Fault Must be Apportioned According to the Comparative Negligence of the Parties

Anne Markey

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Admiralty--Wrongful Death--General Maritime Law Provides Remedy for Pain and Suffering of Decedent Incurred in Wrongful Death on High Seas but not for Funeral Expenses

James F. Maddox

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Arbitration--Securities Regulation--In International Sale of Securities, Arbitration Agreement is Binding not Withstanding Non-Waiverability of Judicial Remedy of Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Thomas C. Eklund

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IMMIGRATION--ALIEN COMMUTERS, BOTH DAILY AND SEASONAL, WHO HAVE ONCE OBTAINED THE STATUS OF IMMIGRANTS ARE PROPERLY CLASSIFIED AS SPECIAL IMMIGRANTS LAWFULLY …

Policy Issues In Primary Industries, Zuhayr Mikdashi

Vanderbilt Journal of Transnational Law

Business and government have espoused a variety of policies to exploit market forces to their advantage. This article explores the policies involved with important issues affecting relationships among protagonists in primary industries and offers some suggestions. The first section deals with "freeing" the supply of key information not normally accessible to less developed countries(LDC's). Sections two and three relate to two aspects of international trade: easing hardships resulting from interruptions in re-source flows; and redistributing gain from resource industries among trading countries. The final two sections of the article deal with development financing, and with the accommodation of foreign investments …

Case Digest, Journal Staff

Vanderbilt Journal of Transnational Law

1. ACT OF STATE ACT OF STATE

Doctrine precludes Payment of Insurance Policy's Cash Surrender Value in Contravention of the Law of the Nation Governing the Contract

2. ADMINISTRATIVE LAW

Secretary of the Interior may suspend Gas and Oil Leases to Conserve Maritime Natural Resources

3. ADMIRALTY

Libel in Rem against Vessel demise Chartered to the United States is not within Court's Jurisdiction under Suits in Admiralty Act when Ship is Outside United States Territorial Waters

Status as Crew Member of and a Relatively Permanent Connection with a Floating Structure required for Recovery Under the Jones Act

Employer may not …