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Full-Text Articles in Law

Anti-Chain Store Legislation, Hugh A. Fulton Dec 1931

Anti-Chain Store Legislation, Hugh A. Fulton

Michigan Law Review

During the past few years chain store merchandising has made such serious inroads upon the trade of independent wholesale and retail merchants that they have been forced to use every expedient within their reach in order to survive. They have banded together in order to achieve the economies which have made chain store merchandising so successful and have been rewarded with a large measure of success and even with the hope of competing on an equal basis with the average chain system. But they have not been satisfied with merely seeking to operate on a smaller margin of profit. They …


Divorce - Domicil - Recognition Of Foreign Decrees, Florence K. Frankel Dec 1931

Divorce - Domicil - Recognition Of Foreign Decrees, Florence K. Frankel

Michigan Law Review

The New York Court of Appeals has re-emphasized some well-established principles of divorce jurisdiction in the recent case of Fischer v. Fischer. In a suit involving the validity of a second marriage, W proved a Nevada divorce from her first husband, a citizen of New York, who had been served in New York but had not appeared to defend the litigation. The court denied recognition to the Nevada decree because W's residence in Nevada, while it conformed with the statutory requirements of that forum, was proved to have been acquired solely for the purpose of securing a divorce. The …


Constitutional Law - Freedom Of The Press - Restraints On Publication, Maurice S. Culp Dec 1931

Constitutional Law - Freedom Of The Press - Restraints On Publication, Maurice S. Culp

Michigan Law Review

A recent Supreme Court decision establishes a new concept of freedom of the press, and adds new meaning to the liberty safeguarded by the Fourteenth Amendment. The defendant, Near, was enjoined from publishing his newspaper because it was alleged that the paper was largely devoted to the publication of malicious, scandalous, and defamatory articles about the grand jury, public officials, and others. The injunction was granted pursuant to a statute which made the publication of a malicious, scandalous, or defamatory newspaper, magazine, or periodical a nuisance subject to abatement by injunction. The Supreme Court of the United States decided that …


Conflict Of Laws - Mistake Of Foreign Law As Mistake Of Fact Dec 1931

Conflict Of Laws - Mistake Of Foreign Law As Mistake Of Fact

Michigan Law Review

Plaintiff sued in Ohio to set aside a deed of Ohio land given by the plaintiff, a resident of that state, in exchange for Texas lands deeded by the defendant who was also a resident of Ohio, for mistake as to defendant's title to the Texas land resulting from a Texas statute of which both parties were ignorant at the time of the transaction. Held, a mistake of foreign law is a mistake of fact authorizing equitable relief. Miller v. Bieghler, 123 Ohio St. 227, 174 N.E. 774 (1931).


State Juvenile Court Procedure For Federal Juvenile Offenders, Howard E. Wahrenbrock Nov 1931

State Juvenile Court Procedure For Federal Juvenile Offenders, Howard E. Wahrenbrock

Michigan Law Review

The Report on the Child Offender in the Federal System of Justice recommends the enactment of federal legislation which will provide means of utilizing the machinery of existing state juvenile courts where federal laws have been violated by children. The details of such legislation are not suggested in the Report. The legal questions to be encountered in the framing of such legislation call for careful consideration if full advantage is to be taken of the knowledge which the study made for the Commission furnishes. Some of the questions of more general interest will be taken as the subject of this …


Sales--Distinction Between Conditional Sale And Chattel Mortgage-Michigan Rule Jun 1931

Sales--Distinction Between Conditional Sale And Chattel Mortgage-Michigan Rule

Michigan Law Review

The petitioner sold a truck under an unrecorded contract which provided that title was to remain in him until the buyer made full payment, and that in event of default the whole sum was to become due immediately with the right of reclamation. The buyer subsequently went into bankruptcy and the seller petitioned for reclamation of the truck from the trustee. Held, that since the contract under the Michigan rule constituted a chattel mortgage so that failure to record it made it ineffective against creditors, the petition should be denied. In re Central States Freight Corporation (E. D. Mich. …


Courts-Power To Direct Verdicts Where Forbidden By State Constitution Jun 1931

Courts-Power To Direct Verdicts Where Forbidden By State Constitution

Michigan Law Review

ln a suit for personal injuries the district court of the United States for the district of Arizona directed a verdict for the defendant on the ground that the plaintiff was guilty of contributory negligence. The constitution of Arizona, sec. 5, art. 18 provides: "The defense of contributory negligence or of assumption of risk shall, in all cases whatsoever, be a question of fact and shall, at all times, be left to the jury." Held, that this section is not binding on a federal court sitting in Arizona, and does not prevent such court from directing a verdict when …


Equity-Power To Reform-Effect Of Statute Of Frauds Jun 1931

Equity-Power To Reform-Effect Of Statute Of Frauds

Michigan Law Review

The plaintiff made an oral contract to sell certain shares of stock to the defendant at a price of $1,160 a share, as a result of a telephone conversation. On the same day the plaintiff sent the defendant a written confirmation of the sale, in which the price of $1,060 a share was inserted by mistake. The New York Statute of Frauds makes such a contract unenforceable unless a note or memorandum thereof be in writing. Held, that although the parties intended to make a memorandum of the oral contract which they had made, the memorandum was of a …


Landlord And Tenant-Covenants-Effect Of A Municipal Ordinance Jun 1931

Landlord And Tenant-Covenants-Effect Of A Municipal Ordinance

Michigan Law Review

L. let a building to T. with the provision in the lease that if the premises should be rendered unfit for occupancy by reason of fire or other casualty, L. would rebuild the same at his own expense. Subsequently the city council passed a building code prohibiting the rebuilding of a structure destroyed more than sixty per cent by fire. The building in this case was almost entirely destroyed by fire and L. was refused a permit to rebuild. Previous to the refusal of the commissioner to grant a permit, T. had preferred L. the monthly rent which L. had …


Constitutional Law-Municipal Corporations-Police Power May 1931

Constitutional Law-Municipal Corporations-Police Power

Michigan Law Review

The defendants circulated, on the streets of Milwaukee, hand bills which set forth the political and economic views of their group. An ordinance made it unlawful for any person "to circulate or distribute any circular, hand bills, cards, posters, dodgers, or other printed or advertising matter, * * * in or upon any sidewalk, street, * * * or other public place, park or ground within the City of Milwaukee." The defendants were arrested and convicted of violating this ordinance. There was no charge that the ordinance was enforced in any unreasonable or discriminatory manner, or that its purpose was …


Conflict Of Laws-Effects Usury Apr 1931

Conflict Of Laws-Effects Usury

Michigan Law Review

A Pennsylvania corporation entered into a contract in Maryland with the defendant credit company, a Delaware corporation, under which the defendant was to advance money upon the assignment to it of accounts, and furnish other services for which it was to receive certain definite fees and commissions. The parties stipulated in the contract that it should be governed as to its validity and interpretation by the laws of Delaware. The receivers of the Pennsylvania corporation brought this action to recover payments made to the defendant under the contract, claiming it to be usurious according to the law of Pennsylvania. Held …


Book Reviews Apr 1931

Book Reviews

Michigan Law Review

Six brief book reviews of various law topics.


The New Michigan Court Rules, Edson R. Sunderland Mar 1931

The New Michigan Court Rules, Edson R. Sunderland

Michigan Law Review

There are two features of general interest connected with the revised system of practice which went into operation in Michigan on January 1, 1931. The first is the manner of employing the rule-making power, and the second is the content of the new rules.


Constitutional Law-Due Process-Police Power-Junk Yards Mar 1931

Constitutional Law-Due Process-Police Power-Junk Yards

Michigan Law Review

The City of Ashland, Kentucky, acting under a specific power to license and regulate junk yards granted to it by the legislature under section 3058-2 Ky. Stat. (Carroll, 1922) passed an ordinance requiring applicants for licenses to operate junk yards within the city of Ashland. "to make and execute with the Clerk of the City of Ashland, Kentucky, a permit signed by the applicant providing that the Police Department * * * may inspect and search the said shop or place of business." The appellant complied with all other requirements, but refused to execute the permit: Because the clerk would …


Crimes-Mistake Of Facts Of A Defense Mar 1931

Crimes-Mistake Of Facts Of A Defense

Michigan Law Review

The defendant was convicted of bigamy under the usual statute (in this case, Fla. Comp, L., 1927, secs. 7559-7660) punishing as bigamous any person remarrying while the former spouse was still living, unless that spouse had been absent three years, the party remarrying not knowing the other to be alive during that time, or unless a legal divorce had been granted. The defense was, that as the defendant's first wife had told him and others that she had secured a divorce and had remarried, and had introduced to him her second husband, he honestly believed her. It was held, …


Statutes-Indefiniteness As Affecting Vaudity Mar 1931

Statutes-Indefiniteness As Affecting Vaudity

Michigan Law Review

Plaintiff sought to enjoin the enforcement of Public Acts Conn. 1929, c. 296, section 4 of which prohibits the "sale or delivery of lubricating oil for use in motor vehicle engines, that shall not be 'equal to or better in quality and specifications' than that !mown as United States Government Specifications for Motor (Class D) Lubricants." Section 5 provides for all tests to determine quality to be made in accordance with methods contained in a certain technical paper of the Bureau of Mines, made a part of the act. The act further provided fines and imprisonment for violations. The district …


Constitutional Law-Due Process-Reasonableness Of Police Regulation Mar 1931

Constitutional Law-Due Process-Reasonableness Of Police Regulation

Michigan Law Review

The New York Agriculture and Markets Law, (Cons. Law, c. 69), sec. 252, 253, required an annual license of all persons or corporations gathering milk from producers for manufacture or resale. This was to be issued only upon execution of a bond for at least $2,000, conditioned upon the compliance with this law and the prompt payment to producers for milk or cream bought by the gatherer. The commission, however, could by formal order relieve the gatherer from having to file this bond if satisfied as to the gather's solvency and probable ability to pay for milk purchased. In case …


Negligence-Spread Of Fire-"New York Rule." Mar 1931

Negligence-Spread Of Fire-"New York Rule."

Michigan Law Review

The properties of plaintiff and defendant were separated by a city street. While filling a gasoline tank on his premises defendant allowed the tank to overflow, the escaping gasoline ignited, the fire spread to a warehouse on defendant's property and thence, across the street, to plaintiff's buildings. Held, that the negligence of the defendant was the proximate cause of the injury to the plaintiff, within the so-called "New York Rule" of limited liability in such cases, inasmuch as the titles of the two parties ran to the center of the street. Homac Corporation v. Sun Oil Co., 244 …


Constitutional Law-Due Process-Revocationof Driver's License Mar 1931

Constitutional Law-Due Process-Revocationof Driver's License

Michigan Law Review

Petitioner's license was suspended under a statute which provided that if a judgment for personal injuries or property damage resulting from the ownership or operation of an automobile remained unpaid fifteen days after it became final, the driver's license should be revoked or suspended until payment and until proof offered of ability to pay future claims. Arrested and jailed for driving without a license, petitioner sought release by writ of habeas corpus on the ground that the statute was unconstitutional. Held, that the operation of the statute was discriminatory and based on an unnatural classification; petitioner discharged. Ex parte …


Some Comments On The Reserved Power To Alter, Amend And Repeal Corporate Charters, Gustavus Ohlinger Feb 1931

Some Comments On The Reserved Power To Alter, Amend And Repeal Corporate Charters, Gustavus Ohlinger

Michigan Law Review

The old theories as to the nature, creation and powers of corporations which during the last hundred years have been obscured, but today are coming more and more to the fore in legal literature, in the adjudications of the courts, and in recent revisions of corporation acts suggest a re-examination of the power of state legislatures to alter, amend and repeal corporate charters under the reservations contained in many state constitutions and statutes, both as related to those theories and as they apply to recent and impending social and economic changes.


Trusts-Right Of Trustee To Reimbursement For Tort Liability Feb 1931

Trusts-Right Of Trustee To Reimbursement For Tort Liability

Michigan Law Review

The recent New York case, In re Lathers presents the question seldom before raised whether a trustee may be reimbursed from the trust estate for tort liability to a third person through his negligence in management of the estate. In that case, as a result of fire in an apartment building of the trust property, the trustee suffered judgments for $62,000 plus costs. The rooms of one apartment, rented by the trustee's agent, had been closed off by the lessee to form several small apartments. For the one subleased to the tort creditor, access to fire escapes, adequate normally, was …


The Initiation Of Criminal Prosecutions By Indictment Or Information, Raymond Moley Feb 1931

The Initiation Of Criminal Prosecutions By Indictment Or Information, Raymond Moley

Michigan Law Review

One of the most pronounced changes in criminal procedure proposed by the new criminal code prepared under the direction of and approved by the American Law Institute is that which proposes "all offenses heretofore required to be prosecuted by indictment may be prosecuted either by indictment or information.'' This would radically affect the present criminal procedure of one-half of the states. In twenty-four states prosecution of practically all cases may now be by information. The reform thus officially proposed by the Institute has been widely recommended by commissions and committees interested in the reform of criminal procedure. In many of …


Statutes-"Reasonable Speed"-Interpretation Feb 1931

Statutes-"Reasonable Speed"-Interpretation

Michigan Law Review

In an action for damages arising out of an accident the instruction was given :that the intersection was a closely built-up portion of the city within the meaning of sec. 12003, 110 Ohio Laws p. 138 which provided, "A rate of speed greater than fifteen miles an hour in the business or closely built-up portions of a municipal corporation or more than twenty-five miles an hour in other portions thereof * * * shall be prima facie evidence of a rate of speed greater than is reasonable and proper." Upon each corner of the intersection there were buildings two or …


Public Utilities-Power Of Commissoin To Change Rates Set In Franchise Granted By Legislature Feb 1931

Public Utilities-Power Of Commissoin To Change Rates Set In Franchise Granted By Legislature

Michigan Law Review

The Dry Dock Company was given franchises by the legislature to operate street railways in New York City, by Laws 1860, c. 512, and Laws 1866, cc. 866, 868, 883. These special laws fixed a five-cent maximum fare. Much later, the Public Service Commission Law (Cons. laws, c. 48) was enacted. Sec. 29 of this provided that, "unless the commission otherwise orders, no change shall be made in any rate * * * which shall have been filed and published by a common carrier * * * except after 30 days' notice to the commission * * * and all …


Crimes-Former Jeopardy-Prosecution In Two Counties For A Continuous Act Jan 1931

Crimes-Former Jeopardy-Prosecution In Two Counties For A Continuous Act

Michigan Law Review

Defendants transported liquor by a single, uninterrupted act from A county to B county in the same state. Having been convicted and fined in B county for the transportation within its boundaries, they were later indicted in A county for that part of the transportation which took place in that territory. A plea of former jeopardy was sustained by the trial judge, and on appeal this holding was affirmed by a divided court, which held, the act constituted a single offense, punishable in either county, but not in both. State v. Shimman et al. (Ohio, 1930) 172 N.E. 367.


Crimes-Speedy Trial-Justification For Delay Jan 1931

Crimes-Speedy Trial-Justification For Delay

Michigan Law Review

The defendant was convicted under a state prohibition statute. The information was filed on June 7, 1929, and no further proceedings were taken against him for more than sixty days thereafter. The defendant moved to dismiss the suit on the ground that he had not had a speedy trial. No jury was on duty during the months of July, August, and the early part of September. Held, that the constitutional guaranty of a speedy trial was not infringed by such delay. State v. Vukich (Wash. 1930) 290 Pac. 992.


Municipal Corporations-Billboards-Prohibition Near Parks And Boulevards Jan 1931

Municipal Corporations-Billboards-Prohibition Near Parks And Boulevards

Michigan Law Review

The defendant acting under statutory authority passed an ordinance prohibiting billboards within five hundred feet of any park or boulevard. Held, the ordinance was valid but unenforceable as to existing billboards except upon the payment of compensation. General Outdoor Advertising Co. v. City of Indianapolis (Ind. 1930) 172 N.E. 309.


Corporations-Preparation Of Stockholders' List-Statutory Provision Jan 1931

Corporations-Preparation Of Stockholders' List-Statutory Provision

Michigan Law Review

On a petition challenging the legality of an election of directors at a special meeting, one of the contentions was that calling this meeting on five days' notice violated section 29 of the Delaware General Corporation Act, as amended by 36 Del. Laws, c. 135, sec. 15, which provided that a list of stockholders entitled to vote be made by the officer in charge, ten days before every election. Held, this is not grounds for avoiding the election; the provisions of the statute are directory only, and where a by-law of the corporation required five days' notice for special …


Crimes - Venue- Non-Support, Abandonment, And Desertion Jan 1931

Crimes - Venue- Non-Support, Abandonment, And Desertion

Michigan Law Review

Defendant was divorced by his wife in A county in 1926. In 1929, defendant was indicted for non-support of his children, in B county, where his former wife and the children had maintained their home since the divorce. An objection to the venue was raised by the defense, on the ground that, if a crime was committed, it was consummated in A county, where defendant had been living during the time he was charged with non-support. Held, that "the venue of non-support is where that support should be rendered." State v. Anderson (Or. 1930) 290 Pac. 1904


Land Title Registration-Effect Of Registration Of Forged Deed And Transfer To Bona Fide Purchaser Under Torrens Act Jan 1931

Land Title Registration-Effect Of Registration Of Forged Deed And Transfer To Bona Fide Purchaser Under Torrens Act

Michigan Law Review

Plaintiffs, purchasers of land previously brought under Illinois Torrens Act, delivered certificate of title to party under agreement to sell, who forged deed to himself, had certificate issued in his name, and then conveyed to defendants who were good faith purchasers for value. Plaintiffs informed registrar of the forgery after the defendants had bought, and demanded cancellation of the deeds and certificates, and the reissue of a certificate to themselves. The registrar refused, and this petition was brought to compel such action. Held, plaintiffs having voluntarily bought land brought under Torrens system, there was a waiver of any constitutional …