Law Commons^™

Agency - Liability Of Principal For Termination Of Agents Employment, William G. Mateer S.Ed.

Michigan Law Review

In the summer of 1949, appellant entered into an oral contract for an indefinite time with the appellee whereby the former was granted an exclusive wholesale distributorship of appellee's farm and garden equipment. A four-year period followed in which appellant increased the number of dealers in appellee's product from four or five in 1949 to over one hundred in 1953. In the latter part of 1952 appellant contemplated an enlargement of its facilities which would require it to enter upon a fifteen-year lease. Since the lessor desired some assurances as to the duration of appellant's franchise, appellant wrote to appellee …

Evidence - Dead Man's Statute - Interpretation Of "Transaction", Howard N. Nemerovski S.Ed.

Michigan Law Review

Plaintiff was a passenger in an automobile which collided with one driven by defendant's intestate. Both drivers were killed, and plaintiff sued defendant, administrator of intestate's estate, for personal injuries, alleging negligence. There were no other eye-witnesses to the collision, and the trial court, relying upon the Alabama dead man's statute, would not permit plaintiff to testify to any of the details or circumstances of the accident, or even to the fact that she had been involved in an accident with an automobile driven by the decedent. The jury found for defendant. On appeal, held, reversed. Plaintiff, passenger in …

Corporations - Officers And Directors - Liability For Inducing A Corporation To Breach Its Contracts, William H. Leighner

Michigan Law Review

Plaintiff real estate company brought suit against the directors of a corporation and other third persons for an alleged conspiracy to induce the corporation to breach its contract with plaintiff. The complaint alleged that the corporation had entered into an agreement whereby plaintiff was to procure a purchaser for certain premises owned by the corporation and that plaintiff had found a purchaser; that before a written offer could be obtained, the corporation contracted to sell to another broker who was to be used as a conduit to transfer title to the purchaser found by the plaintiff, and who was to …

Torts - Uniform Contribution Among Tortfeasors Act - Effect Of Release On Injured Person's Claim, Herbert A. Bernhard S.Ed.

Michigan Law Review

Plaintiffs were injured in a collision involving vehicles driven by the individual defendants Hershberger and Mong. Mong settled with each of the seven plaintiffs for varying amounts, receiving from them releases which not only discharged him from all liability but also reduced the damages recoverable against Hershberger by fifty percent. Plaintiffs then sued Hershberger, who joined Mong as an additional defendant. After verdicts were rendered against both defendants, the trial court denied Hershberger's motion to compel reduction of the verdicts so that in each of the seven instances his liability would be the lesser of (a) fifty percent of the …

Pierson: The Defense Attorney And Basic Defense Tactics; Defense Law Journal, Vol.1, Marcus L. Plant

Michigan Law Review

A Review of The Defense Attorney and Basic Defense Tactics. By Welcome D. Pierson., DEFENSE LAW JOURNAL, vol. 1.

Torts - Guest Act - Negligent Conduct Of The Driver, William K. Muir Jr.

Michigan Law Review

Plaintiff was a gratuitous passenger in an automobile driven by defendant. Defendant, intending to coast to his destination, turned off the ignition, removed the key, and placed it in his pocket. The removal of the key caused the steering gear to lock, and defendant was unable to avoid a collision with a tree. Plaintiff suffered injuries and brought suit. Evidence was adduced to show that in defendant's type of automobile the steering wheel was so constructed as to lock upon removal of the key. Testimony revealed that defendant understood the general operation of the lock, but that the particular mechanism …

Torts - Recent Legislation - Parental Liability Statutes, Joseph T. De Nicola, William J. Wise, Robert C. Casad S.Ed.

Michigan Law Review

Fourteen states now have statutes imposing vicarious liability upon parents for tortious acts of their children. These statutes, with one exception, all have been enacted within the past six years, and they present the most significant attempt to date by legislatures to control the incidence and remedy the effects of juvenile vandalism. The parental liability laws vary with respect to the ages of the children covered, and they place different pecuniary limits on the extent of the parent's liability. Coverage may extend to personal injuries as well as to property damage. All except the Louisiana statute, however, apply only to …

Partnership - Partnership By Estoppel -Application To Tort Actions, Thomas Erickson S.Ed.

Michigan Law Review

Plaintiff-motorist brought action against defendant who, it was alleged, owned a truck which was driven into the rear of the plaintiff's automobile. Defendant had arranged to take title to the truck from his son. The transfer was to be effective three days before the accident but was not in fact completed until after the accident. Defendant also had taken out insurance on the truck and had joined with his son in purchasing it and in taking out an ash-hauling license in which business the truck was used. Other trucks previously used in the business by defendant's son had been carried …

Required Joinder Of Claims, Dieter L. Hoegen

Michigan Law Review

In review we can say that within a comparatively broad field of the American law required joinder of claims is the rule. There are some exceptions. The German law has no rule of compulsory joinder of claims. Here, there are some exceptions, too. In this sense and within a field which is marked out by the American rule and the German exceptions, the relationship of rule and exceptions is reversed in the two systems.

Torts - Federal Tort Claims Act - Liability Of United States For Negligence Of Government Firemen, James M. Porter S.Ed.

Michigan Law Review

Plaintiff brought suit under the Federal Tort Claims Act against the United States for damages resulting from the negligence of the United States Forest Service in combating a fire that destroyed plaintiff's property. The Forest Service had entered into an agreement with the State of Washington to prevent and suppress any fires in the area in which plaintiff's land was situated. The federal district court dismissed the complaint for failure to state a cause of action and the court of appeals affirmed. On certiorari, to the United States Supreme Court, held, judgment vacated and case remanded to the district …

Regulation Of Business - Robinson-Patman Act - Injury To Competition Between Buyers Of Auto Parts, A. Duncan Whitaker S.Ed.

Michigan Law Review

Petitioner manufactured and sold automobile parts to distributors who resold them to jobbers in interstate commerce. The products were classified into three lines: leaf spring line, coil action line, and piston ring line. A progressive, cumulative discount was given in each line, based upon the aggregate yearly purchases of either a single buyer or a group-buying organization. The Federal Trade Commission charged petitioner with price discrimination in violation of the Robinson-Patman Act. Every customer who testified at the hearing denied that he had been injured competitively by the petitioner's pricing practices. Nevertheless, in view of the substantial price differentials, the …

Garibaldi V. Borchers Bros. [Dissent], Jesse W. Carter

Jesse Carter Opinions

A trial court did not err in giving an instruction on continuing negligence in conjunction with an instruction on last clear chance, and an instruction on a truck driver's right to assume that a minor would exercise the care of a child his age.

Contributory Negligence--Instructions, L. L. P.

West Virginia Law Review

No abstract provided.

Negligence--Res Ipsa Loquitor--Use Denied Gratuitous Guest Passenger In Action Against Driver Of Motor Vehicle, C. H. B. Jr.

West Virginia Law Review

No abstract provided.

Defamation Via Television Ad Lib; Libel And Slander Distinctions, Harold M. Halpern

Buffalo Law Review

Shor v. Billingsley, 158 N. Y. S. 2d 476 (Sup. Ct. 1957).

Recent Cases, Law Review Staff

Vanderbilt Law Review

RECENT CASES

AGENCY--INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR--"ONE WAY LEASE" EFFECTIVE TO TERMINATE RELATIONSHIP

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COURTS--CIVIL RIGHTS ACT--IMMUNITY OF JUDGE FOR ACTS COMMITTED IN THE EXERCISE OF A JUDICIAL FUNCTION

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COURTS--CONTEMPT--VIOLATION OF COURT RULE BANNING PHOTOGRAPHY

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CRIMINAL LAW--ENTRAPMENT BY STATE OFFICIAL AS A DEFENSE TO FEDERAL PROSECUTION

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DAMAGES--BREACH OF WARRANTY--RECOVERY FOR LOSS OF PROFITS

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FEDERAL COURTS--CHOICE OF LAW--APPLICATION OF ERIE DOCTRINE TO DIVERSITY CASES INVOLVING FEDERAL COMMERCIAL PAPER

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TORTS--BATTERY--CONSENT OF MINOR TO SIMPLE OPERATION AS A DEFENSE

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TORTS--DUTY TO ACT--EMPLOYER'S ASSUMPTION OF A DUTY BY GIVING MEDICAL EXAMINATIONS TO EMPLOYEES

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Civil Procedure - Joinder Of Statutory Causes Of Action With Common Law Negligence Where There Are Different Parties Defendant, George W. Marti

Michigan Law Review

Plaintiff brought an action against defendant for injuries received in an automobile accident caused by defendant's negligence in driving while intoxicated. She sought to join with this claim actions against several bar owners under a statute providing for liability of bar owners for injuries caused by one to whom they had unlawfully sold alcoholic beverages. One of the defendant bar owners moved to dismiss for misjoinder or to compel an election of causes on the ground that since only compensatory damages could be recovered against the defendant-consumer upon common law negligence, and both exemplary and compensatory damages could be recovered …

Required Joinder Of Claims, Dieter L. Hoegen

Michigan Law Review

This comparative study is confined to the situation of one claimant against one claimee. The principles which will be considered seem to be rather well settled both in the American and the German law. The fact, however, that besides many a common result we shall find fundamental differences in the pertinent basic concepts of the American and German systems makes the discussion worthwhile. It may, at least, promote a reconsideration of the propriety of those concepts.

Aviation Law - Tort Liability For Damage To Persons Or Property On The Ground - Res Ipsa Loquitur, Allan L. Bioff

Michigan Law Review

Plaintiff's fishing vessel was struck and sunk by a practice bomb released from a Marine Corps aircraft. An action was brought against the government under the Federal Tort Claims Act. Plaintiff could produce no proof of negligence on the part of the government. Held, recovery allowed. The doctrine of res ipsa loquitur is applicable. Goodwin v. United States, (E.D. N.C. 1956) 141 F. Supp. 445.

Barrera V. De La Torre [Dissent], Jesse W. Carter

Jesse Carter Opinions

The trial court did not err in instructing jury that it could not infer driver's negligence from mere happening of accident, even though facts would support giving of res ipsa loquitur instruction; driver's negligence was question of fact for jury.

Evaluation And Settlement Of A Personal Injury Claim For Damages, George E. Allen

Washington and Lee Law Review

No abstract provided.

Personal Injury Litigation: Settlement Or Trial, From The Defense Point Of View, J. A. Gooch

Washington and Lee Law Review

No abstract provided.

Master And Servant - Independent Contractor - Inherent Danger Exception, Jerome K. Walsh, Jr. S.Ed.

Michigan Law Review

Defendant was a home-owner whose home was fumigated by an independent contractor. Plaintiff was the administrator of the estate of a water softener service man, who entered the home and was overcome by the cyanide gas used in the operation. It was agreed by the parties that the contractor was negligent in failing to lock all entrances to the home, and in not posting warnings at all entrances. Plaintiffs request to charge the jury that the work was inherently dangerous was refused. The court instructed the jury to determine whether or not the defendant had used due care in selecting …

Admirality - Jurisdiction - Action For Wrongful Death On The High Seas Limited To Admiralty, Robert Knauss S.Ed.

Michigan Law Review

Plaintiff as widow and administratrix seeks damages from the United States for the alleged wrongful death of her husband on the high seas. Action was brought at law under the Federal Tort Claims Act. Government's motion to dismiss was sustained. There is no common law cause of action for wrongful death on the high seas. The federal Death on the High Seas Act gives a remedy to the representative only "in Admiralty," and thus jurisdiction is lacking at law in the district court. Kunkel v. United States, (S.D. Cal. 1956) 140 F. Supp. 591.

Husband And Wife - Right Of Wife To Sue For Loss Of Consortium Due To Negligent Injury To Husband, James M. Porter S.Ed.

Michigan Law Review

Plaintiff brought an action for loss of consortium with her husband, allegedly due to defendant's negligent injury of the husband. In a prior suit the husband's cause of action against the defendant had been settled and dismissed with prejudice. The trial court dismissed the present suit for failure to state a cause of action. On appeal, held, reversed. The wife has a valuable property right of consortium. Iowa statutes pertaining to the rights of married women clearly indicate the intent of the legislature to remove the common law bar of coverture that prevented a wife from maintaining an action …

Taylor V. Hawkinson [Dissent], Jesse W. Carter

Jesse Carter Opinions

Compromise verdict for passenger, her husband, and driver of husband's car after first trial did not render issue of liability res judicata on retrial, and judgment on liability was not binding upon driver of other car until after he could attack it.

Admiralty - Collision - Duty Of Third Vessel To Give Warning, Michael Scott

Michigan Law Review

Washington, a private merchantman proceeding north at night through a large United States Navy formation steaming west, received no warning from formation commanders that Ruchamkin, an escort, was rejoining from the east. Uninformed of Washington's presence and ordered to resume station expeditiously, Ruchamkin entered the formation at high speed. Despite late radical maneuvers upon discovery of Washington close aboard, Ruchamkin was struck by the latter's bow with resulting damage to both ships. On reciprocal libels, held, decree for Washington's owner. In addition to Ruchamkin's failure to anticipate Washington, the United States was negligent in that the …

Negligence - Duty Of Care - Liability Of Builder And Architect To Third Party, Raymond J. Dittrich

Michigan Law Review

The plaintiff, an infant, fell from the back porch of an apartment leased by his parents from a housing authority. The plaintiff brought actions for negligence against the architect who designed the dwelling, the builder who constructed it, and the housing authority which leased it, alleging that the back porch was so designed and constructed as to create a dangerous condition for the users thereof. The trial court dismissed the complaints against the builder and the architect. On appeal, held, reversed. Despite the lack of privity between the builder and the architect and the plaintiff, a good cause of …

Torts - Unauthorized Autopsy - Non-Survival Of Action, Lee H. Snyder

Michigan Law Review

Plaintiff's husband was struck and killed by a motorbus owned and operated by defendant municipality. The body was removed to a hospital maintained by defendant. Subsequently, at the request and direction of a physician employed by defendant, an autopsy was performed, apparently to determine whether the deceased had been drinking. During the examination certain organs were removed and destroyed. Plaintiff brought an action for damages on the ground that the mutilation was done without her consent and in violation of her legal right to the possession of the body. Plaintiff died while the action was pending, and her administrator continued …

Brandelius V. San Francisco [Dissent], Jesse W. Carter

Jesse Carter Opinions

City and county were entitled to a new trial in a survivor's wrongful death suit. Evidence that the city's cable car had the last clear chance to avoid the accident at issue in the trial warranted a jury instruction on the last clear chance doctrine.