Law Commons^™

Fire Insurance-Is "Double" Payment Necessarily Overpayment?

Michigan Law Review

A recent Wisconsin case, Ramsdell v. Insurance Co., presents a novel and interesting situation. The lessor and lessee of business property each insured the property in separate companies, the lessor for $3,000 and the lessee for $7,500. The lease contained no provisions as to insurance, repairing, or rebuilding and there was no contract between any of the parties which could affect the situation that arose. A loss of $4,246 occurred in June. After lengthy negotiations had proved fruitless, the lessee rebuilt the premises and sued his insurer. At the same time the lessor sued on his policy. The lessee …

Injunctions-Statutory Injunctions In Legal Actions Under The Iowa Code

Michigan Law Review

The Iowa Code contains a unique and interesting provision which was copied from the English Common Law Procedure Act of 1854. It provides that :--"In all cases of breach of contract or other injury, where the party injured is entitled to maintain and has brought an action by ordinary proceedings, he may, in the same cause, pray and have a writ of injunction against the repetition or continuance of such breach of contract or other injury, or the commission of any breach of contract or injury of a like kind arising out of the same contract or relating to the …

Damages-Apportionment Of Punitive Damages In An Action Against Agent And Corporation Jointly

Michigan Law Review

The recent South Carolina case of Johnson v. Atlantic Coast Line R. Co., presents, it is submitted, an undesirable extension of the rule announced in Goddard v. Grand Trunk R. Co. The latter decided that a corporation or principal is liable in punitive damages for a malicious act of its agent committed in the course of, or in connection with, his duties or employment. The prevailing opinion seems to be that the principal is liable (in exemplary damages) only when he has authorized, participated in, or ratified the act of the agent. or was negligent in the selection of …

International Law-Recognition Of Governments

Michigan Law Review

The decision of the Circuit Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit recently brought to a close an interesting piece of litigation which had been dragging its way through the courts for several years. The issue on the international law point was so sharply presented, the counsel so able, investigation so completely exhaustive, and the recovery so substantial that the case has been given full attention by the newspapers as well as by legal commentators.

Constitutional Law-Methods Of Testing The Constitutionality Of Rate Status Involving Heavy Penalties

Michigan Law Review

Where a state statute prescribes maximum intrastate railroad rates and also attaches heavy penalties for violations of the statute by a railroad or its agents, and where a railroad thinks the rates are confiscatory and hence unconstitutional, it is faced with an apparent dilemma. Must it either submit to the supposed confiscatory rates or else run the chance of incurring heavy penalties in case the statute is held constitutional? Or, is there another alternative-a painless way of testing the validity of the rates?

Carriers-Statute Of Limitations For Bringing Suit For Injury To Goods

Michigan Law Review

A recent case decided by the Supreme Court of the United States suggests the query-ls there a federal statute of limitations for bringing suit for injury to goods in an interstate shipment? The answer depends on the interpretation of the Cummins Amendment of March 4, 1915 and the Transportation Act of 1920. The relevant and germane provision of these acts as to the time limit for commencing suit for injury to goods on an interstate carriage is "That it shall be unlawful for any such common carrier to provide by rule, contract, or regulation a shorter period for giving notice …

Injunction In Labor Disputes--Anti-Trust Laws--"Secondary Boycott".

Michigan Law Review

Since the passing of the Sherman Anti-Trust Act in 1890 there has been an enormous increase in litigation concerning the trade union and its activities. When the Supreme Court in the Danbury Hatters' case8 held that labor organizations were included in the provisions of the Sherman Act, and that the so-called "secondary boycott"' was a violation of the terms of this act, labor felt that it had lost a very effective weapon and at once began to fear that the very existence of the labor union was in danger. Not having much hope of relief from the courts, the forces …

A Rational Theory For Joinder Of Causes Of Action And Defences, And For The Use Of Counterclaims, William Wirt Blume

Michigan Law Review

In discussing, first, the joinder of actions it will be convenient to consider three groups or classes of cases:

Class I : Where one plaintiff (or joint plaintiffs) unites in a single proceeding two or more causes of action against one defendant (or joint defendants).

Class 2: "Where two or more plaintiffs, each having a cause of action against the same party (or parties), unite their causes of action in one proceeding.

Class 3: Where one plaintiff (or joint plaintiffs) having several causes of action, each against a different party, unites them in one proceeding.

In considering each group or …

Recent Important Decisions

Michigan Law Review

A collection of recent important court decisions.

Note And Comment, Clair B. Hughes, Stanley E. Gifford, Stuart S. Wall, Ralph W. Aigler, Gordon Stoner

Michigan Law Review

Adverse Possession in the Case of the Rights of Way of the Pacific Railroad Companies - While the weight of authority is probably to the effect that railroad rights of way may be lost by adverse possession, the authorities are by no means agreed. The rights of way of certain of the Pacific Railroad Companies have been declared not to be subject to the ordinary rules as to adverse possession, on the ground that by the Congressional grants the four-hundred-foot-strips -were conveyed only for railroad purposes with the ultimate possibility of reverter in the United States, which had the effect …

Recent Important Decisions

Michigan Law Review

A collection of recent important court decisions.

Note And Comment, Joseph H. Drake, Frederick R. Shearer, Jack M. Hendrick, Peter Balkema, Wilson W. Mills

Michigan Law Review

Pecote: A Bit of Legal Archaeology - -In the case of Pusey v. Pusey, I Vern. 273 (1684), the "bil was, that a -horn, which time out of mind had gone along with the plaintiff's estate, and was delivered, to his ancestors in ancient times to hold their land by, might be delivered to him; upon which horn was the inscription, viz. pecote this horn to hold huy thy land." The bill was demurred to in that the plaintiff did not by his bill pretend to be entitled to this horn, either as executor or devisee; nor had he in …

Note And Comment, Ralph W. Aigler, Wilson W. Mills, Sidney E. Doyle, Joseph J. Kennedy

Michigan Law Review

The Renvoi Theory Repudiated as a Test for Determining the Negotiability of a Note - A recent case decided by the Supreme Court of Oklahoma (Bell v. Riggs, 127 Pac. 427) involving, among others, a question as to what law governs the negotiability of a note made in one State and payable in another, though of little intrinsic value so far as that point is concerned, is of some interest because the attorney for the holder of the note made a curious attempt to adapt the renvoi theory to his case. The term renvoi is used as a convenient descriptive …

Note And Comment, Sigmund W. David, Newton K. Fox, Harold R. Curtis, Aquilla C. Lewis, Albert R. Dilley

Michigan Law Review

Civil Liability for False Testimony; Review by the Courts of the Decisions of the Land Department; Right of One Partner to Sue His Co-Partners in Conversion; Does a Tax Deed, Void on it Face, Give Color of Title; Interference With Employment by Trade Union;

Note And Comment, Gordon W. Stoner, Sigmund W. David, Victor R. Jose Jr.

Michigan Law Review

The Law School; Pleading Estoppel; Libels on Person and on Property; The Conflict Between a Patentee's Right to Monopoly and a State Anti-Monopoly Statute

Recent Important Decisions, Michigan Law Review

Michigan Law Review

Attachment--Power of Notary Public to Take Affidavit Where He is an Attorney for One of the Parties; Bankruptcy--Effect of Discharge--Res Adjudicate; Bills and Notes--Presentment and Demand by Telephone; Constitutional Law--Commerce--State Regulation of Interstate Telegrams; Constitutional Law--community Property--Alienation Without Consent of Wife; Corporations--Criminal Responsibility--Imputation of Intent and Knowledge; Corporations--Dividends--Compulsory Declaration; Corporations--Stockholder's Right to Examine Books--Motive; Easements--Grants for Pipe Lines--Rights Acquired--Telephone Line; Evidence--Character of Disbarment Proceedings--Use of Deposition; Evidence--Uncorroborated Testimony of an Accomplice; Fraudulent Conveyances--Voluntary Conveyances--Solvency and Insolvency of Grantor; Homestead--When Liable for Debts; Husband and Wife--Exception to Presumption of Coercion--House of Ill Fame; Injunction--Action on Note by Attorney Against Client--Remedy at …

Liability For Accidents In Aerial Navigation, Simeon E. Baldwin

Michigan Law Review

It cannot be long before the American courts will be called upon to decide whether, under the principles of the common law, aeronauts, who cause damage by a descent to the earth, are liable at all events, or only when chargeable with negligence or want of skill. Is there a right to navigate the air, corresponding to the right to navigate the sea? ·

Note And Comment, Henry M. Bates, Edson R. Sunderland, Harry W. Isenberg, James H. Brewster

Michigan Law Review

The Right of Privacy at Common Law; Limitation of a Carrier's Liability for Negligence; Validity of Corporate By-Law Vesting in Directors the Discretionary Power of Denying Stockholders the Right to Examine the Corporate Books; A Single Action of Successive Actions for a Nuisance; Status of One Holding Office Under an Unconstitutional Statute; Two Recent Decisions Preventing the Presbyterian Re-Union

The German Law-Suit Without Lawyers, Simon E. Baldwin

Michigan Law Review

As in the Roman practice, during the formulary period, there were two judicial stages to every law-suit, one in which the issue was determined and: the mode of trial directed, and another for the trial itself, so there are two judicial stages to every German law-suit. In the first, the court finds out what is really in controversy; in the second is the trial. In most cases there must be written pleadings drawn by lawyers, and a trial conducted by lawyers. A plaintiff is not allowed to conduct his own cause in any of the higher courts. But the plaintiff …

Note And Comment, Edward S. Rogers, Horace Lafayette Wilgus, Edward A. Macdonald, Floyd Olds, J. Fred Bingham, Michael F. Shannon, Sidney F. Duffey

Michigan Law Review

The Doctrine of Unfair Trade; Valuing Property and Franchises of Public Service Corporations for Fixing Rates; Right of the Interstate Commerce Commission to Adduce Testimony; Rule in Shelley's Case controls Estate Created by Deed to Trustee; The Right of the Garnishee to Dispose of Goods in His Possession While the Litigation is Pending; The Police Power, Billboards and Sky Signs; How Far the Record of Voting Machines is Conclusive;

Note And Comment, Harry B. Hutchins, Stephen W. Downey, Francis B. Keeney, Clyde A. Dewitt

Michigan Law Review

Suits Against Trustee; Bills and Notes--Nonnegotiable Notes--Liability of Indorser; Bonds--Joint Stock Association--Negotiability; Carriers--Free Transportation as a Penalty; Carriers--Waiver of Stipulations as to Suits; Constitutional Law--Due Process of Law--Indeterminate Sentence Law; Constitutional Law--Corporations--Foreign Corporations--Exclusion For Removal of Cause to Federal Courts; Constitutional Law--Powers of Constitutional Convention; Criminal Law--Capital Offense--Bail--When Granted; Criminal Law--Murder--Elements of Murder; Damages--Action by Husband for Loss of Wife's Services; Damages--Failure to Deliver Telegram--Mental Suffering--Near Relative; Deeds--Joinder of Infant Husband; Divorce--Temporary Alimony and Counsel Fees--Appeal--Decisions Reviewable; Equity--Sworn Answers as Evidence--Proof to Overcome; Evidence--Opinion Evidence in Action for Libel; Evidence--The Best Evidence Rule; Fraudulent Conveyances--Delivery and Change of Possession of …

Recent Important Decisions, Michigan Law Review

Michigan Law Review

Aliens - Right to Take Land by Descent - Loss of State's Right to Escheat; Bailment - Liability of Incidental Bailee; Bankruptcy - Preferences - Franchise Tax; Bankruptcy - Transfers Required to be Recorded - Preferences; Bills and Notes - Bona Fide Purchaser - Notice of Want of Power in Transferrer; Bills and Notes - Unrestricted Negotiability of Bills of Lading; Constitutional Law - Commerce Clause - Statute Relating to Interstate Carriers as Employers; Constitutional Law - Indeterminate Sentence Law; Courts - Rules of Property - Stare Decisis; Criminal Law - Exclusion of Public from Trials; Criminal Law - Impeachment …

Recent Important Decisions, Michigan Law Review

Michigan Law Review

Attorney--disbarment for Malpractice; Bills and Notes--Certification of Check; Bills and Notes--consideration--Illegal Use of Proceeds--Sunday Contracts; Bills and Notes--Notice of Protest; Carrier--Invalid Ticket--Tender of Cash Fare--Ejection of Passenger; Common Carriers--Express Companies--Municipal Tax on Delivery of Intoxicating Liquors--Mandamus to Compel Transportation; Common Carriers--Limitation of Liability by Special Contract--Hand Baggage; Constitutional Law--Obligation of Contract; Constitutional law--Privileges of Citizens--Interstate Commerce--Peddler's License; Corporations--conflict of Laws--Liability of Stockholders in Company Formed to Trade in a Foreign Country--Implied Authority to Pledge Personal Credit of Shareholders Under Foreign Law; Covenants--Privity of Estate; Criminal Law--False Pretenses--Post payable Check; Criminal Law--Presumption from Identity of Names; Deeds--Capacity of Grantor as Compared …

Recent Important Decisions, Michigan Law Review

Michigan Law Review

Adverse Possession--Boundaries--Mistake; Attachment--Fraudulent Conveyance--Damages for Breach of Promise of Marriage; Bailments--Liability of Private Carrier on a Special Contract; Bailments--Loss of Goods Resulting from Violation of Ordinance; Constitutional Law--Equal Protection of the Laws--Due Process--State's control of Fish and Game; Contributory Negligence--Passenger on Car Platform; Conveyance--Standing Timber--Recording--Bona Fide Purchaser; Deeds--Building Restrictions--Easements; Deeds--Rule in Shelley's Case; Equity--Mistake of Fact--Negligence; Evidence--Photograph--X-Ray; Executors and Administrators--Liability of Executrix to Account fo rTrust Estate Held by Her Testator; Foreign Corporations--Interstate Commerce; Garnishment--Situs of Debt; Gift-Parent and Child--Undue Influence--Presumption; Guardian and Ward--Filling of Blank After Execution; married Women--Separate Estate--Note and Mortgage to Secure Husband's Debt; Master and Servant--Independent …

Recent Important Decisions, Michigan Law Review

Michigan Law Review

Adoption--Inheritance by Representation; Adverse Possession--Effect of Former Judgment--Statute of Limitations; Adverse Possession--Statute of Limitations--Jurisdiction of the Department of the Interior; Concealed Property--Finder's Rights--Treasure Trove; constitutional Law--Eminent Domain--Taking Private Property for Private Use; Constitutional Law--Penalty for Breach of Labor contracts; Contract--Mutuality--Specific Performance; Corporations--contracts Between Corporations Having Common Shareholders and Officers--Suit in Name of Stockholder; Corporations--Liability of Officers--Negligent management--contracts Between Corporations Having Common Officers; Deed--Insane Person--Voidable Assignment; Ejectment--Impairment of Contract Obligation; Evidence--Confession--Admission; Evidence--Letters of Administration--How Far Evidence of Widowhood; Evidence--Personal Injury--Physical Examination of Plaintiff; Foreign Corporations--Business in Other States--License--Purpose of Incorporation--Evasion of State Laws; Fraud--Doctrine of Reasonable Inquiry; Guardian--Appointment--Jurisdiction--Sale of Ward's Lands; …

Recent Important Decisions, Michigan Law Review

Michigan Law Review

Administrator--Appointment of, on Disappearance of Person; Agency--collection of Notes--Possession of the Instrument--Apparent Authority; Appeal--Right to Appeal After Satisfaction of Judgment; Attorney and Client--divorce Cases--contingent Fees--Prevention of Reconciliation; Attorneys--disbarment--Attacking Honesty of Judge; Bankruptcy--city Taxes--Priority; Carriers--Death by Wrongful Act--Stipulations Avoiding Liability for Negligence Toward free Passenger--Validity and Effect; Carriers--signed Ticket not the Contract; Constitutional Law--Class Legislation--Use of Flag for Advertising Purposes; Constitutional Law--Jurisdiction of Equity to Try Title to Office--Injunction; Contract--Validity--Conditions Attached to Goods--Purchase by Retail Trader from Wholesale Trader with Notice; corporations--forfeiture of Charter--Mandamus; Corporations--Garnishment of Stockholder for Unpaid Subscription; Criminal Law--Self-Defense; Deeds--Delivery--Testamentary Disposition; Ejectment--Description--Verdict--Judgment; Ejectment--Equitable Title in Plaintiff; Evidence--Admissions--Abandoned Pleadings; …

Note And Comment, Michigan Law Review

Michigan Law Review

The Law Review; Citizenship and Identity of Corporations Incorporated in Two States; Duty of Court to Limit by Instruction the Effect of Evidence; Land Records as Notice of Chattel Mortgage; Appeal from a Satisfied Judgment to Avoid Estoppel; When Government Surveys are not Conclusive; Jurisdiction over the Ohio River;

Recent Important Decisions, Michigan Law Review

Michigan Law Review

Acknowledgment--Who may Take--Stockholder; Action for Death of a Child-- Contributory Negligence; Adverse Possession--Computation of Time--Litigation in Land Office; Bankruptcy--Homestead--Jurisdiction of bankruptcy Court; Chattel Mortgages--Unidentified Number Among a Greater Number of Like Articles--Validity; Constitutional Law--Possession of Game fish in Closed Season; Constitutional Law--Special Act--Sunday Law; Contracts--Impossibility of Performance--Implied Condition; Contracts--Violation of Penal Statute--Transaction Void; corporations--Dissolution--Rights of Minority Stockholders; Corporations--Insolvency--Preferences to Officers; Equity--Jurisdiction--Partition--Oil Leases; Judgments--Absence of Jurisdiction--Injunction--Restraining Execution; Master and Servant--False Imprisonment--Duty of Merchant to Customers; Master and Servant--Fellow Servants--Assumed risks--Injuries to Servant While off Duty; Minor's enlistment in the Navy--Validity--Desertion--Arrest--habeas Corpus; Real Property--Rule in Shelley's Case--Wills; Specific Performance--Parol Contract--Part Performance; Suretyship--county …

Recent Important Decisions, Michigan Law Review

Michigan Law Review

Administrators--Right to Convey Inchoate Homestead; Agency--Scope of Authority--Sunday Contract; Assignment for the Benefit of Creditors--Action to set Aside; Bankruptcy--Discharge--Debt Created in Fiduciary Relation--Laundry Agent; Bills and Notes--Banks--Payment of Draft to Impost--Liability to Drawer; Chattel Mortgages-Validity--Mortgagor's Possession and Power of Sale in Ordinary Course of Business; Constitutional Law--Due Process at Law--Forfeiture of Lands for Failure to Pay Taxes; Constitutional Law--Local Option Law--Use of Liquors in Religious Worship--Discrimination; Contract for the Benefit of Third Persons--Enforcement by Beneficiary--Assignment; Corporations--Oral Subscription to Stock--Statute of Frauds; Corporations--Promissory Notes--Proof of Execution; Courts--Jurisdiction of State Court to Enjoin a Receiver Appointed by Federal Court; Damages--Automobiles--Frightening Horses--Excessive Speed; …

Recent Important Decisions, Michigan Law Review

Michigan Law Review

Agency--Authority to Appoint Sub-Agents; Agency--right to Compensation; Bankruptcy--Discharge; Bankruptcy--Discharge; Banks and Banking--Crediting Depositor--Check of Another Depositor; Conflict of Laws--Legitimation of a Bastard--Status Fixed by Domicile of his Parents; Conflict of Laws--Lex Loci Fori--Right of Action in England for Acts in Foreign Country--Territorial Waters; Constitutional Law--Summary Sale of Trespassing Animals; Contract--Public Policy--General Restraint of Trade; Contract--Validity--Release of Employer for Liability to next of Kin for Injury to Employee; Elections--Right of a Party Committee to Question Eligibility of a Candidate; Fraudulent Conveyances--Contingent Fees; Insurance--Condition for Immediate Notice--Excuse; Married Women--Power to Enter into Partnership with Husband--Set off of Debt Due by Partner in …