Law Commons^™

Wrongful Death—Action By Wife’S Administrator Allowed Though Wife Could Not Have Brought Action Had She Lived, Ralph L. Halpern

Buffalo Law Review

Welch v. Davis, 410 Ill. 130, 101 N. E. 2d 547 (1951).

Some Comments On The Relation Of Pre-Trial To The Rules Of Evidence, Harry D. Nims

Vanderbilt Law Review

The term "Pre-Trial" is of such recent origin that it is found in few, if any, dictionaries. It seems to be used to describe conferences or hearings attended by counsel for litigants (and by litigants themselves, if they so desire) and a judge of the court to discuss the simplification of the issues to be tried, the sufficiency of the pleadings, the possibility of obtaining admissions and stipulations of facts and documents to avoid unnecessary proof, the limiting of the number of expert witnesses, and any other measures which may aid in the disposition of the case when it comes …

Book Reviews, Edmund M. Morgan, Albert Williams (Reviewer), J. Warren Madden (Reviewer), Melvin M. Belli (Reviewer), George H. Tyne (Reviewer), William J. Bowe (Reviewer)

Vanderbilt Law Review

Book Reviews

The Hearsay Rule

By R. W. Baker

London: Sir Isaac Pitman & Sons,Ltd., 1950. Pp. xxi, 180

reviewer: Edmund M. Morgan

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Self-Incrimination: What Can an Accused Person be Compelled to Do?

By Fred E. Inbau

Springfield, Illinois: Charles C. Thomas, 1950.Pp. x, 91. $2.50

reviewer: Albert Williams

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Administrative Law

By Kenneth C. Davis

St. Paul: West Pub. Co.,1951. Pp. xvi, 1024. $8.00

Administrative Law: A Test

By Reginald Parker

Indianapolis: The Bobbs-Merrill Co., 1952. Pp. x, 344. $5.50

Administrative Agencies and the Courts

By Frank E. Cooper

Ann Arbor; University of Michigan Law School, 1951. Pp. …

Federal Procedure-Jurisdiction-Removal Under Section 1441(C) Of Title 28 By Nonresident Defendant Where Joint Torts Cause A Single Injury, Wilber M. Brucker, Jr. S.Ed.

Michigan Law Review

Plaintiff, a citizen of Utah, brought a joint action for damages in a state court of Utah against Powell, also a citizen of Utah, and the Denver & Rio Grande Western Railroad Company, a Delaware corporation. Plaintiff alleged both an assault and battery by Powell in the depot of the railroad company, and negligence of the railroad company in failing to take action to prevent or arrest this assault. The railroad company had the entire action removed to the federal district court under section 1441(c) of the Judicial Code. Upon motion of the railroad company, the claim against it was …

Civil Procedure-Jurisdiction-Commission Of Isolated Tort By Foreign Corporation As "Doing Business" Within The State, W. H. Bates S.Ed.

Michigan Law Review

Plaintiff, a Vermont resident, brought action for damages in the Vermont court, alleging negligence of defendant in re-roofing plaintiff's house located in that state. Defendant, a Massachusetts corporation, had not qualified to do business in Vermont, nor had it appointed an agent to receive service therein. There was no evidence to indicate that defendant was actively engaged in business there. Substituted service was made upon defendant through the Secretary of State of Vermont as authorized by a statute. The statute stipulated that the term "doing business" included those instances in which a foreign corporation made a contract in Vermont with …

Torts--Inducing Breach Of Contract--Attorney-Client Contingent Fee Contract, Richard W. Pogue

Michigan Law Review

Plaintiff, a practicing attorney, undertook on a contingent fee basis to represent a husband and wife in separate claims for damages alleged to have been suffered by them through the negligence of the driver of a motor vehicle. The driver was insured under a policy issued by defendant. Defendant had notice of the contract. After plaintiff had started suit on the damage claim and as the case was about to be tried, defendant's adjusters, without knowledge on the plaintiff's part, allegedly induced the clients to discharge the plaintiff (and "thereby break their contingent fee contract with him") and subsequently to …

Master And Servant—Liability Of Master For Injuries Inflicted By Incompetent Servant—Respondeat Superior And Original Negligence, Edward J. Mccormick Jr.

Washington Law Review

The owner of an apartment house employed a manager who, in the exercise of his duties, employed a janitor. Thereafter, the janitor became drunk and assaulted a tenant. The trial court expressly found that this fact was communicated to the manager who nevertheless continued to employ the janitor. There was no express finding that any information concerning the dangerous propensities of the janitor was communicated to the owner. However, the trial court found generally that both the owner and manager were negligent in retaining, the janitor in "their employ." Shortly after the first assault the janitor assaulted P, also a …

Negligence-Duty Of Care-Pedestrian Crossing Between Cars Of A Train, Joseph M. Kortenhof

Michigan Law Review

While attempting passage between cars of a train which was obstructing a public crossing in violation of a statutory time limit, plaintiff was severely injured when the train was set into motion without warning. Plaintiff testified that he did not see the engine of the train since it was at the end of a long string of cars. The trial court excluded plaintiff's evidence that for thirty years it has been the custom of the town's inhabitants to cross between the cars of a train which was blocking a public crossing. Upon completion of plaintiff's case, the trial court sustained …

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 …

Recent Cases, Law Review Staff

Vanderbilt Law Review

CRIMINAL PROCEDURE--FACIAL EXPRESSIONS AND GESTICULATIONS OF TRIAL JUDGE--PREJUDICIAL EFFECT ON JURY

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EMPLOYMENT SECURITY ACT--PERSONS COUNTED TO DETERMINE WHETHER AN EMPLOYING UNIT HAS REQUISITE NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES TO CONSTITUTE AN "EMPLOYER"--STUDENTS WORKING FOR SCHOOL TO PAY TUITION

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FEDERAL JURISDICTION--JURISDICTIONAL AMOUNT--INJUNCTION SUITS

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LEGAL ETHICS--SOLICITATION AND FEE SPLITTING--ATTORNEY CONTRACTING WITH LABOR UNION TO REPRESENT UNION MEMBERS FOR CONTIGENT FEE

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NEGLIGENCE--LANDOWNER'S DUTY OF CARE--DUTY OWED TO FIREMAN

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NEGLIGENCE--STANDARD OF CARE--ASSURED-CLEAR-DISTANCE-AHEAD RULE

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PERSONAL PROPERTY--TENANCY BY THE ENTIRETY--BANK ACCOUNTS

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PLEADING--GENERAL ISSUE--SCOPE IN TENNESSEE

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TORTS--CHARITABLE INSTITUTIONS--TORT LIABILITY OF CHARITABLE INSTITUTIONS UNDER THE DOCTRINE OF RESPONDEAT SUPERIOR

The King Does No Wrong -- Liability For Misadministration, Reginald Parker

Vanderbilt Law Review

The age-old rule of the common law that a citizen may not seek redress from the government for wrongs committed by the latter is often restated in the form of two maxims. One is that "the king can do no wrong." It refers to "wrongs" in the narrower sense of the word, meaning torts and related delicts. It has its counter part if not origin in the Roman-Byzantine holding, princeps legibus solutus est.' Many modern countries and some states have abrogated the rule. The other maxim, "the sovereign cannot be sued without his consent," precludes any law suit, not merely …

Excessive Personal Injury Awards; A Problem And A Recommendation, Anthony R. Nardi

Cleveland State Law Review

An improved, workable, and sensible test for "excessiveness" in the area of personal injury awards must be established. It is fairly easy to confuse "excessive" with the concept of "large" or "high" awards. In some particular instances perhaps relatively larger or higher awards are proper in today's economy. But, the bulk of over a million injury cases is at a level fairly easy to classify and thereby to compensate properly. When proper standards are established, then awards become excessive when they go beyond this just and equitable measure. Classifications and guides for the vast majority of personal injury claims will …

Inducing Breach Of Contract In Ohio, Arlene B. Steuer

Cleveland State Law Review

This article is limited in its scope to the development in Ohio of a cause of action for the tort of wrongfully inducing breach of contract, either by fraud, duress, obstruction, etc., or by mere persuasion, and the extent to which an invasion of contractual rights will be privileged by the fact that the actor is a competitor. It is not intended to cover generally the subject of interference with contract rights, nor the various situations under which an actor will be privileged to interfere with another's contractual rights except when the privilege claimed is competition. The development of this …

Husband And Wife-Consortium Right Of Action In Wife For Negligent Injury To Husband, James B. Taylor

Cleveland State Law Review

Where the loss of her husband's consortium is the result of personal injuries caused by the mere negligence of a third person, the wife has no cause of action; she did not have such right at common law and no legislation has been enacted to give her this right. Nevertheless, at the same time that this right is denied to the wife, her husband has a cause of action under identical circumstances. In such a case, the gist of the action is the loss of his wife's services, and the right has not been affected by legislation which has abrogated …

Corporations-Officers And Directors--"Corporate Opportunities" Doctrine, Thomas P. Segerson S.Ed.

Michigan Law Review

Plaintiff corporation brought a bill in equity for an accounting of profits arising from an alleged breach of fiduciary duty by defendant, a former officer and director. The alleged breach consisted of defendant's action in procuring a contract for the manufacture of a saw sharpening machine for the X corporation, wholly owned by him, without disclosing such facts to his associate directors of plaintiff corporation. Plaintiff corporation was engaged in the manufacture of polishing machines, while the X corporation manufactured lawn mowers. At the time of the contract, defendant "knew that ... [plaintiff corporation] desired to enlarge its field of …

Negligence-Foreseeability As A Limitation On Liability, Frank Bowen Jr.

Michigan Law Review

Plaintiff's truck broke down on the road. Another truck driver, attempting to pass plaintiff's truck, became mired beside it, and the two trucks blocked the road. While plaintiff lay under his truck attempting repairs, a bulldozer operated by the defendant approached the two trucks from the rear." The driver of the second truck signaled the defendant to push his, the mired truck, but the defendant, mistaking the signal, pushed plaintiff's truck, causing it to run over plaintiff's legs. The defendant had not seen the plaintiff beneath the truck. The issue of defendant's negligence was submitted to the jury, and verdict …

Torts-Alienation Of Parent's Affection, John J. Edman S.Ed.

Michigan Law Review

Plaintiff, a minor child, brought a tort action against defendant for enticing her mother to desert her, thereby depriving plaintiff of support, maintenance, and maternal care and affection. The trial court sustained defendant's demurrer. On appeal, held, affirmed. The statutes of the state provide other means of support of the child, and he has no right of action for the deprivation of a parent's love and affection. Nelson v. Richwagen, (Mass. 1950) 95 N.E. (2d) 545.

Municipal Corporations-Tort Liability Of Municipality For Injury Caused By Neglect To Perform Mandatory Duty, J. S, Ransmeier S.Ed.

Michigan Law Review

By statute the State of New Jersey imposed upon every New Jersey municipality the obligation to insure the drivers of municipal motor vehicles against liability for damages resulting from the operation of such vehicles. The Township of Lyndhurst neglected to procure insurance in favor of plaintiff, and a personal judgment was recovered against him for his negligent operation of a township fire truck while in pursuance of his municipal duties. Plaintiff brought the present action to recover from the municipality for its breach of the statutory obligation. Judgment below was for defendant. On appeal, held, affirmed, three justices dissenting. …

Torts-Defamation-Libel By Silence, J. G. Castel

Michigan Law Review

In an almanac published in 1939, Professor Turpain of the University of Poitiers, France, purported to name the inventors of radio. He failed to include the name of E. Branly. In 1940 Branly brought suit in the lower civil court of Poiters against Professor Turpain, alleging that he had been ''libelled" by silence. The court agreed with him. The court of appeals of Poitiers reversed the decision of the lower court and dismissed the case. Following Branly's death, his heirs questioned the validity of the decision of the court of appeals in the court of Cassation. The court held, …

Federal Tort Claims Act As Applied To Military Personnel, James F. Hoge

Kentucky Law Journal

No abstract provided.

Respondeat Superior: The "No Riders" Problem, Robert C. Moffit

Kentucky Law Journal

No abstract provided.

Defamation--Retraction--A Bill That Didn't Pass, Diane Louise Mckaig

Kentucky Law Journal

No abstract provided.

Responsibility Of A Master For Assaults Made By His Collectors, Charles N. Carnes

Kentucky Law Journal

No abstract provided.

Negligence—Macpherson V. Buick Held Inapplicable Where Alleged Defect Is Obvious To User, Sheldon Hurwitz

Buffalo Law Review

Campo v. Scofield, 301 N. Y. 468, 95 N. E. 2d 802 (1950).

Defamation—Written Imputations Of Indebtedness Concerning Non-Trader Held Libelous Per Se, Maynard C. Schaus Jr.

Buffalo Law Review

Cyran v. Finley Straus, Inc., 302 N. Y. 486, 99 N. E. 2d 298 (1951).

Torts—Overthrow Of The Charities' Immunity Doctrine—Judicial Cognizance Of Changing Public Policy Considerations, Robert Alan Thompson

Buffalo Law Review

Ray v. Tuscon Medical Center, 72 Ariz. 22, 230 P. 2nd 220 (1951).

Negligence—Recovery Denied Where Plaintiff Was En Ventre Sa Mere, Alfreda Wilczek

Buffalo Law Review

Woods v. Lancet, 278 App. Div. 913, 105 N. Y. S. 2d 417 (1st Dept. 1951).

Torts—Interference With Contractual Relations—Treble Damages Denied, Robert C. Schaus

Buffalo Law Review

Frishman v. Metropolitan Tobacco Co., Inc., __ Misc. __, 104 N. Y. S. 2nd 446 (Sup. Ct. 1951).

Damages, Edgar Hunter Wilson

Mercer Law Review

During the period of this survey the appellate courts of Georgia have reaffirmed the following general principles of the law of damages: Exemplary damages may not be recovered in actions on contracts. A jury finding as to the amount of damages will not be upset unless the amount is so small or so large as to indicate "gross mistake or undue prejudice." "General damages are such that the law presumes to flow from any wrongful act, which the law denominates a tort, and may be recovered without proof of any amount." The amount of general damages or injury to the …

Absolute Liability--Blasting--Damages By Concussion And Vibration, W. O. S.

West Virginia Law Review

No abstract provided.