Law Commons^™

Torts-Assault And Battery-Use Of Traps To Protect Property From Felonious Taking, Charles E. Oldfather S. Ed.

Michigan Law Review

Plaintiff brought an action for personal injuries. Defendant planted two sticks of dynamite in the floor beneath the door of his mining warehouse in order to prevent repeated thefts of personal property from the building. The dynamite was rigged to explode when the door was opened. Plaintiff, with the intent of stealing whatever he could, broke the lock, opened the door, and from the ensuing explosion received leg and foot injuries. Plaintiff's act was a statutory felony. Defendant testified that he in good faith thought that the amount of dynamite used would merely frighten the plaintiff. Trial court held the …

Real Property-Tenancy By Entireties-Creation By Deed From Husband To Husband And Wife, Richard P. Matsch S. Ed.

Michigan Law Review

H owned real estate in fee simple. His wife, W, joined with him in a warranty deed conveying the land to themselves with the expressed intention of creating a tenancy by entireties. H died and his heirs challenged W's right to take the fee by survivorship. The trial court held that a tenancy by entireties had been created and the wife properly took the fee. On appeal, held, affirmed, one judge dissenting. An Arkansas statute providing that a married man may convey "the interest specified in the deed" directly to his wife permits a husband, already owner …

Statute Of Frauds—Real Estate Brokers' Contracts—Agency, James B. Mitchell

Washington Law Review

P orally engaged D to sell P's land, for which D was to receive a commission of $1,000. D falsely represented that he had procured a purchaser who would buy the property if he could obtain a loan of $10,000, and that D could procure the necessary loan upon paying a bonus of $3,000 to the lender. P, in reliance on these representations, entered a written agreement to pay D $4,000. P brought an action to recover the $3,000 which D had received and converted to his own use. Held: The oral agreement created an agency relationship which D breached …

Book Reviews, Thomas Reed Powell, Bernard D. Meltzer, Louis L. Jaffe, Edward D. Morgan, Paul H. Sanders, Neill H. Alford Jr., Carl M. Franklin, Fowler Harper, Robert E. Childs, David E. Watts, Joseph L. Frascona, Maynard E. Pirsig, Samuel M. Fahr, Robert S. Stevens, Corwin W. Johnson, W. Friedmann, Thomas A. Cowan

Journal of Legal Education

No abstract provided.

Book Reviews, Cornelius J. Moynihan, John Hanna, Walter Dunham Jr., Marshman S. Wattson, Harold J. Berman, L. H. Rhinelander, William D. Warren

Journal of Legal Education

No abstract provided.

Taxation--Liability Of Purchaser At Tax Sale For Assessments On Property, S. F. B.

West Virginia Law Review

No abstract provided.

Tax Planning For Nontaxable Estates, William J. Bowe

Vanderbilt Law Review

Owners of modest estates are always greatly relieved to learn of the liberal federal estate tax exemption of $60,000. Freed from the burden of federal estate tax planning they frequently turn their attention to methods of transferring property which will avoid the heavy cost and delay incident to probate administration. Joint ownership, gifts of remainder interests, donee-beneficiary contracts, revocable trusts are among the more common devices available. Use of any one of these plans may accomplish a shift in possession and enjoyment of property upon the death of the planner with no delay and minimum expense.

But the income tax …

Rights Of Creditors In Insurance -- The Tennessee Exemption Statutes, Paul J. Hartman

Vanderbilt Law Review

The subject of the availability of assets to creditors is important when a trustee in bankruptcy as a representative of creditors is seeking to gather assets to pay off creditors; and the subject is of equal importance where a single creditor, not in a bankruptcy proceeding, is seeking to satisfy his claim out of the assets of his debtor. Whatever is property in the hands of the debtor is available to his creditors, unless it is exempt by law. This property is his estate, considered indifferently from the standpoint of the single creditor who seeks to realize for himself alone, …

Book Reviews, Hugh L. Sowards, Stanley D. Rose (Reviewer), William D. Warren (Reviewer)

Vanderbilt Law Review

Securities Legislation

By Louis Loss

Boston: Little, Brown & Com-pany, 1951. Pp. xxvii, 1283. $17.50

reviewer: Hugh L. Sowards

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Private Property, the History of an Idea

By Richard Schlatter

New Brunswick: Rutgers University Press, 1951. Pp. 284. $2.50

reviewer: Stanley D. Rose

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Oil and Gas Law: Collection of articles

TEXAS LAW REVIEW

Austin: Texas Law Review, Inc., 1951. Pp. xix, 1736. $15.00

reviewer: William D. Warren

Statute Of Frauds—Executory Land Contracts—Requisites And Sufficiency For A Written Description Of Platted Land By Street Number, City, County And State, G. J. Silvernale Jr.

Washington Law Review

In an action for specific performance of a real estate contract, D set up the plea of the statute of frauds, in that there was an insufficient legal description. D had signed an earnest money agreement containing the following description: "real property: at 309 E. Mercer, Seattle, King County, Washington." Held: the legal description is insufficient. Every contract for the sale or conveyance of platted real property must contain in addition to the other requirements of the statute of frauds, the description of such property by correct lot number(s), block, addition, city, county, and state. Martin v. Seigel, 35 Wn. …

Restraints On Alienation Of Legal Interests In Michigan Property: Iii, William F. Fratcher

Michigan Law Review

In England the impossibility of inter vivos creation of interests in expectancy in chattels and the unsuitability for the purpose of the devices of bailment and contract have tended to restrict attempts to restrain the alienation of chattels to the trust device and provisions in wills for forfeiture on alienation. The trust device involves equitable interests, which are beyond the scope of this study. In connection with a bequest of the use and occupation of chattels for life or a term of years the English courts would probably sustain the validity of a provision for forfeiture on alienation by way …

Real Property-Licenses-Revocability Of Parol Licenses Which Have Been Acted Upon, Charles E. Oldfather

Michigan Law Review

Plaintiff, operator of a boat company, owned land adjoining a river. X held land between that of the plaintiff and a county road. Plaintiff, seeking to secure a way from his property to the county road, offered by letter to purchase forty acres from X, and upon refusal, attempted to buy a forty foot strip, which was again refused. There was further correspondence, in which the parties referred to an "easement" or a "right of way," which terminated in a letter from X saying: ''From the standpoint of this company, there will be no objection to you building a …

Conflict Of Laws-Property-Law Governing Mortgage Deficiency Judgments, William O. Allen S.Ed.

Michigan Law Review

Defendant, a Michigan corporation, became a guarantor on a mortgage of land located in Alabama. Both the mortgage and underlying note were executed in Alabama and the note was payable there. Upon default, mortgagee, acting under a power of sale, foreclosed the mortgage and became the purchaser at the sale, which was duly conducted according to Alabama law. Mortgagee then brought this action in the federal district court for Michigan to recover the deficiency remaining due after foreclosure. Defendant claimed that the fair market value of the mortgaged property exceeded the balance due on the mortgage debt, and that under …

Title By Adverse Possession In Tennessee, Allen Shoffner

Vanderbilt Law Review

The Tennessee courts have been unnecessarily burdened with the interpretation and application of ambiguous statutes; in consequence, the material to be found on adverse possession is voluminous and difficult to analyze. Yet the law on this subject seems to satisfy present day needs and is basically in accord with the policy of quieting titles. The method by which title may be acquired regardless of disabilities seems desirable. The seven-year defensive or possessory title statute, although peculiar in its nature, tends to encourage use and development of rural and mountainous lands. The presumption of a grant affords a way for one, …

Eminent Domain—Private Property Destroyed Pursuant To Scorched Earth Policy—Held Compensable, Neil R. Farmelo

Buffalo Law Review

Caltex (Phillipines) Inc. v. United States, 100 Fed. Supp. 970 (Ct. Cl. 1951).

Landlord And Tenant--Conditions And Limitations, C. M. H.

West Virginia Law Review

No abstract provided.

Equity—Specific Performance By Partial Sub-Purchaser Against Original Vendor, Robert Schaus

Buffalo Law Review

George V. Clark Co., Inc. et al v. New York, New Haven & Hartford Ry. Co. et al., __ App. Div __ , 107 N. Y. S. 2nd 721 (1st Dept. 1951).

Tenancies By The Entirety In New York, Hilary P. Bradford

Buffalo Law Review

No abstract provided.

Recent Cases, Law Review Staff

Vanderbilt Law Review

CONSTITUTIONAL LAW--RACIAL RESTRICTIVE COVENANTS--ALLOWANCE OF DAMAGES FOR BREACH

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CORPORATIONS--PARENT AND SUBSIDIARY--SUBSIDIARY AS INSTRUMENTALITY OF PARENT WHEN USED TO CARRY ON UNFAIR TRADE PRACTICES

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EVIDENCE--ADMISSIBILITY OF CONFESSION--SCOPE OF REVIEW OF COURT-MARTIAL BY COURT OF MILITARY APPEALS

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EVIDENCE--CONFLICT OF LAWS--APPLICATION OF DOCTRINE OF RES IPSA LOQUITUR

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EVIDENCE--DUE PROCESS--USE IN STATE PROSECUTION OF EVIDENCE FORCIBLY OBTAINED BY STOMACH PUMP

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EVIDENCE--ENTRIES IN THE REGULAR COURSE OF BUSINESS--TEST FOR EXTENT OF ADMISSIBILITY UNDER FEDERAL JUDICIAL CODE

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EVIDENCE--HEARSAY--ADOPTION OF LIBERAL ADMISSION RULES OF ADMINISTRATIVE TRIBUNALS IN ANTITRUST COURT ACTION

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EVIDENCE--IMPEACHMENT OF ONE'S OWN WITNESS--USE OF PRIOR INCONSISTENT STATEMENTS

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Real Property-Landlord And Tenant-Transfer By Lessee As Sublease, Not Assignment, John S. Slavens

Michigan Law Review

X leased lands to plaintiff for a term of years, with a provision that if property truces were assessed against the property in excess of a certain amount, plaintiff would pay X a certain proportion of the excess amount as additional rent. Plaintiff then transferred his remaining term to defendant "subject to the terms" of the overlying lease. In addition, the sublease provided for a right to cancel the sublease if defendant failed to restore in case of fire or in the event of taking by eminent domain. Subsequent to the sublease, the tax assessments exceeded the amount stipulated in …

Restraints On Alienation Of Legal Interests In Michigan Property: I, William F. Fratcher

Michigan Law Review

During the century and a half which followed the Norman Conquest, the owner of land who attempted to transfer it might meet with opposition from three interested parties, his feudal overlord, his heir apparent and his tenant. His feudal overlord might object to a transfer by way of substitution, that is, one under the terms of which the transferor did not retain a reversion; because the proposed transferee was not a suitable person to perform the feudal services due for the land. As these services were frequently of a personal or military nature such an objection was not necessarily captious. …

Real Property-Notice-Recitals In Unrecorded Deeds In Chain Of Title, James S. Taylor

Michigan Law Review

The plaintiff, Eiring, owner of all rights in a tract of land, attempted to convey certain mineral rights to Earnest by deed. The alleged rights passed from Earnest by subsequent mesne conveyances to McMillan, and, on the death of McMillan, to the defendant as trustee. Eiring brought an action against the defendant in statutory trespass to try title to the land. In the deed from Eiring to Earnest blank spaces were left in the granting clause. Held, the blank spaces rendered the deed void, and the deficiency was not cured by reference to another indefinite deed. After holding this, …

Real Property-Prescription-Reciprocal Easements In Mutual Driveway, David W. Rowlinson S.Ed.

Michigan Law Review

Plaintiffs brought this suit in equity to establish their right to an alleged easement acquired by prescription in a joint driveway on the lot line separating their lot from defendants' lot and for injunctive relief restraining defendants from interfering with their use of the driveway. The husband of the common grantor of these lots had erected a house on each lot in 1924 and had constructed a driveway over the eight feet of land between the houses, half of the driveway being on each lot. Each lot was thirty-one feet wide and each had a garage in the rear, defendants' …

Book Reviews, Robert J. Lynn, William J. Bowe (Reviewer), Samuel J. Foosaner (Reviewer), Stanley D. Ross (Reviewer)

Vanderbilt Law Review

Handbook on the Law of Future Interests

By Lewis M. Simes

St.Paul, West Publishing Co., 1951. Pp. xv, 495. $8.00

reviewer: Robert J. Lynn

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Tax Savings in Real Estate Transactions

Prepared by Bureau of Analysis, Davenport, Iowa. Chicago: Published under auspices of National Institute of Real Estate Brokers of the National Association of Real Estate Boards, 1951. Pp. 98. $5.00

reviewer: William J. Bowe

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Income Tax Treatment of Life Insurance proceeds and other Tax Articles

By William J. Bowe

Nashville: Vanderbilt University Press,1951. Pp. 90. $2.10

reviewer: Samuel J. Foosaner

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Justice According to Law

By Roscoe Pound …

Books Received, Law Review Staff

Vanderbilt Law Review

CHARLES EVANS HUGHES AND THE SUPREME COURT

By Samuel Hendel

New York: King's Crown Press, 1951. Pp. 337

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DUE PROCESSES OF LAW

By Virginia Wood

Baton Rouge: Louisiana State University Press, 1951. Pp. 436. $6.00.

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LEGAL AID IN THE UNITED STATES

By Emery A. Brownell

Rochester: The Lawyers Co-operative Publishing Co., 1951. Pp. 333. $4.50.

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LEVIATHAN AND NATURAL LAW

By F. Lyman Windolph

Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1951. Pp. 147. $2.50.

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OIL AND LAW

Articles reprinted from the Texas Law Review

Austin:Texas Law Review, 1951. Pp. 1736. Bound copies $15.00, unbound copies $12.00.

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PRICE POLICIES …

Negligence-Duty Of Care-Duty Of Possessor Of Land Conducting Activities Thereon To Keep A Lookout For Licensees, Duncan Noble

Michigan Law Review

Plaintiff, seeking employment, came onto the site of a road construction project under defendant's control as general contractor and posted by him with notices of construction and against trespassing. Plaintiff was struck by a materials truck backing, without lookout or warning, over the completed half of the road. On these facts the jury found that the truck was negligently operated and plaintiff prevailed. On appeal, held, affirmed. A contractor owes a duty of ordinary care to licensees in a case of "active," as distinguished from "passive" negligence. Evidence as to the mode of operating the truck and "likelihood" of …

Formal Requirements For Creation Of The Oil And Gas Lessee's Interest, William D. Warren

Vanderbilt Law Review

The practice of the courts of employing almost as many varying and contradictory descriptions of the nature of the lessee's interest under the usual oil and gas lease as there are petroleum producing states has a historical origin which is clearly traceable. In the latter half of the nineteenth century as each of the known oil bearing states was slowly explored and developed for petroleum, it fell the lot of their courts to solve the complicated legal problems arising in this new and unique industry. Equipped with but little accurate scientific knowledge about the physical behavior of oil and gas, …

Real Property-Easements-Implied Grant Of Right Of Way, James B. Wilson

Michigan Law Review

Plaintiffs claimed an easement by implied grant in a driveway situated wholly on defendants' land, but directly adjoining the land of plaintiffs. The driveway had been constructed at a time when both pieces of property were owned by X. X had conveyed part of the land to plaintiffs' remote grantor, and three months later had conveyed the adjoining portion, including the driveway, to defendants' remote grantor. The driveway had fallen into disrepair and at the time of the action was in such a depreciated state as to be practically useless. On the opposite side of plaintiffs' house there was …

Book Review. The Law Of Real Property, Vol. Iii By Richard R. Powell, Leon Harry Wallace

Articles by Maurer Faculty

No abstract provided.

Terminating Conditions Unlimited In Time

Indiana Law Journal

No abstract provided.