Law Commons^™

Recent Cases, Law Review Staff

Vanderbilt Law Review

Recent Cases--

Attorney and Client--Contingent Fee Contracts--Divorce Action

Corporations--Corporate Power--Contributions to Philanthropic Institutions

Corporations--Criminal Anti-Trust Action--Indemnification of Directors for Litigation Expenses

Evidence--Presumption of Law and Inference of Fact--Retrospective Presumption of Continuity

Federal Procedure--Class Actions--Discretion of Trial Court

Income Taxation--Deductions--"Ordinary and Necessary"--Expenses

Income Taxation--False Statements--Criminal Penalties

Labor Law--Arbitration Agreements--Specific Enforcement in Federal Courts

Military Law--Discharged Personnel--Power to Arrest for Serious Crimes

Military Law--Privilege Against Self Incrimination--Admissibility of Handwriting Specimen Obtained Involuntarily

Torts--Automobile Guest--Contributory Negligence as a Matter of Law

Workmen's Compensation--Employees' Altercations--Aggresso

Torts, John W. Wade

Vanderbilt Law Review

As might have been expected a large portion of the litigation before the Tennessee appellate courts during the Survey period involved tort actions. Most of these actions, of course, were based upon negligence. There were several cases involving the intentional harms of assault and battery and false imprisonment. No cases were decided involving deceit, defamation, strict liability or interference with advantageous relations.

Agency, Merton Ferson

Vanderbilt Law Review

The facts in Dickson v. Blacker were these: Dickson operated a filling station in Memphis and, along with it, a parking lot situated one and one-half blocks from the filling station. Blacker left his automobile at the filling station for storage, and it was taken to the parking lot. An employee of Dickson was sent to the parking lot to get the car. The employee, without permission, drove the car away and wrecked it six blocks from the filling station. Blacker, the owner of the car, was allowed to recover from Dickson, the owner of the filling station parking lot.

Local Government Law, Clyde L. Ball

Vanderbilt Law Review

This summary is limited to cases decided in the Court of Appeals and Supreme Court of Tennessee, reported during the last year, and dealing with some phase of that body of law which embraces' Municipal Corporations, Counties, Officers, Elections and related topics fitting into the general classification of Local Government Law. No attempt has been made to consider Acts of the 1953 General Assembly which may have affected this field, as most of the legislation in this field is local in nature.

Recent Cases, Law Review Staff

Vanderbilt Law Review

Contracts--Ceiling Price Legislation--Effect upon Performance

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Evidence--Declarations against Interest--Third-Party Confessions

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Family Law--Loss of Consortium of the Parent--Right of Child to Recover Against a Negligent Defendant

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Federal Procedure--Statutory Construction--Meaning of "Mentally Incompetent"

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Income Taxation--Surrender of Lease--Capital Gain to Lessee

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Income Taxation--Taxable Stock Dividend--Treasury Stock Held for Investment

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Judgment--Suit to Vacate--Insufficient Allegations of Cruelty Void Divorce Decree

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Labor Law--Filing Requirements--Noncompliance at Time Charges Filed

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Municipal Corporations--Liability for Negligence--Operation of Swimming Pool for Profit

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Process--Constructive Service--Tort Action Arising Without State

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Torts--Res Ipsa Loquitur--Application To Disappearing Airplane

Recent Cases, Law Review Staff

Vanderbilt Law Review

CONFLICT OF LAWS--ANNULMENT FOR MENTAL INCAPACITY--APPLICABILITY OF LAW OF DOMICIL

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CONFLICT OF LAWS -DAMAGES -EFFECT OF OUT-OF-STATE EMPLOYMENT CONTRACT

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CONFLICT OF LAWS --DIRECT ACTION AGAINST INSURER--CONSTITUTIONALITY OF STATUTE REQUIRING APPLICATION TO OUT-OF-STATE INSURANCE POLICIES

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CONFLICT OF LAWS --JURISDICTION -FOREIGN ACTS AFFECTING COMMERCE

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CONFLICT OF LAWS --JURISDICTION --SERVICE ON UNINCORPORATED NONRESIDENT

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CONFLICT OF LAWS --JURISDICTION --TRESPASS TO LAND AS TRANSITORY ACTION

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CRIMINAL PROCEDURE --SUSPENDED SENTENCE --FACTORS CONSIDERED IN REVOCATION

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FEDERAL PROCEDURE --RULE 50(b) --TRIAL COURT'S DISCRETION TO GRANT NEW TRIAL OR JUDGMENT

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LIMITATION OF ACTIONS --STATUTORY CONSTRUCTION--"ACT OR OMISSION COMPLAINED OF"

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PROCEDURE-- …

Joint Tortfeasors And The Conflict Of Laws, John W. Wade

Vanderbilt Law Review

Much has been written regarding tort liability and the conflict of laws and there are numerous cases in the field.' But little attention has been paid to the conflicts aspects of the many legal problems which surround the concept of joint tortfeasors. This paper attempts to collect the relatively few decisions on the subject and to analyze the problems involved.

In the beginning it should be made clear that the term "joint tortfeasors" is used, unless otherwise indicated, in the broad, somewhat colloquial sense which most American courts use today. Thus used, it includes both joint tortfeasors in the narrow …

Recovery Of Damages For Mental Anguish Alone In Breach Of Contract Actions, Law Review Staff

Vanderbilt Law Review

Before the late 1800's it undoubtedly would have been contrary to law to assert that damages for mental suffering might be allowed in breach of contract actions. However, near the beginning of the Nineteenth Century a few courts made what was considered to be a serious departure from the common law and allowed such damages in certain types of cases. The passing of years has brought about considerable, though incomplete, development in this phase of the law. Not only have legal writers failed to give this development the comment which its significance warrants, but the courts have failed to indicate …

The National Guard And The Federal Tort Claims Act, Stanley D. Rose

Vanderbilt Law Review

In a comment appearing in a previous issue of the Vanderbilt Law Review there was a discussion of the application to military personnel of the Federal Tort Claims Act. One part of that comment may now be expanded. The torts of National Guards men whose units have not been called into federal service do not create a cause of action under the Federal Tort Claims Act. The National Guard of the United States is a reserve component of the Army of the United States. It is made up of the National Guard of the several states, territories and the District …