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Legislative Restriction Of Creditor Powers And Remedies: A Case Study Of The Negotiation And Drafting Of The Wisconsin Consumer Act, Jeffrey Davis Nov 1973

Legislative Restriction Of Creditor Powers And Remedies: A Case Study Of The Negotiation And Drafting Of The Wisconsin Consumer Act, Jeffrey Davis

Michigan Law Review

This Article discusses the background, negotiation, and drafting of selected WCA restrictions on creditor powers and remedies and compares those provisions to the analogous restrictions proposed by other reform measures. In addition to the UCCC, the MCCA and the WCA, two other major works must be considered in any discussion of consumer-credit legislation. First is Working Redraft No. 4 of the UCCC (UCCC Redraft). This proposed revision, published in December 1972, represents a marked change in the UCCC. Many provisions favorable to the consumer have been added, and many of the parallel provisions on sales and loans have been consolidated. …


Evidence--Medical Treatises To Be Admitted As Direct Evidence In Wisconsin--Lewandowski V. Preferred Risk Mutual Ins. Co., Michigan Law Review Nov 1967

Evidence--Medical Treatises To Be Admitted As Direct Evidence In Wisconsin--Lewandowski V. Preferred Risk Mutual Ins. Co., Michigan Law Review

Michigan Law Review

Defendant's attorney in a personal injury action sought on cross-examination to impeach plaintiff's physician regarding his determination of the degree of plaintiff's disability by referring to the medical standards set forth in the American Medical Association's Guide to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment--The Extremities and Back. Pointing to the physician's testimony that he had not relied on the Guide in making his evaluation, the trial court sustained plaintiff's objection that such cross-examination was not permissible. On appeal, the Wisconsin Supreme Court held that the trial court was correct in sustaining the objection in accordance with the established rule that it …


Negligence--Assumption Of Risk And Contributory Negligence--Abolition Of Assumption Of Risk As A Defense Separate From A Contributory Negligence In Autobmobile Guest-Host Situations Negligence In Automobile Guest-Host Situation, S. Anthony Benton Apr 1962

Negligence--Assumption Of Risk And Contributory Negligence--Abolition Of Assumption Of Risk As A Defense Separate From A Contributory Negligence In Autobmobile Guest-Host Situations Negligence In Automobile Guest-Host Situation, S. Anthony Benton

Michigan Law Review

Plaintiff, a guest in an automobile driven by defendant, was injured when defendant's vehicle collided with another car. In plaintiff's suit against defendant and her insurer the jury found that defendant was causally negligent as to management and control and position on the highway, and that plaintiff was causally negligent as to lookout. After apportioning 85 percent of the negligence to defendant and 15 percent to plaintiff, the jury found that plaintiff had assumed the risk with respect to defendant's management and control and position on the highway, and the trial court therefore entered judgment dismissing the complaint. On appeal, …


The Adequacy Of State Insurance Rate Regulation: The Mccarran-Ferguson Act In Historical Perspective, Spencer L. Kimball, Ronald N. Boyce Feb 1958

The Adequacy Of State Insurance Rate Regulation: The Mccarran-Ferguson Act In Historical Perspective, Spencer L. Kimball, Ronald N. Boyce

Michigan Law Review

Any substantial inquiry into the functioning of the insurance commissioner in American society poses the question, at the threshold of the inquiry, whether state regulatory power over the insurance business is likely to continue, or whether insurance will fall increasingly under the aegis of the federal government. This article seeks to ascertain the minimum conditions for the permanent preservation of state regulatory power over the insurance business, and to determine whether they are now satisfied. These conditions may be summarily stated: the Congress of the United States has shown its willingness to apply federal antitrust and marketing legislation to the …


Wills - Execution - Attestation, Max H. Bergman Jan 1957

Wills - Execution - Attestation, Max H. Bergman

Michigan Law Review

Prospective witnesses to a will saw the testatrix standing in an adjoining room engaged in writing. Soon thereafter, the testatrix asked them to come in and sign a paper. Her name had already been written on the document, and she neither signed it in the witnesses' presence nor in any manner indicated the writing to be her will. The witnesses read enough of the document, however, to know it was a will, before subscribing it in the presence of the testatrix and one another. Three of the testatrix' sons objected to the probate of the will on the ground that …


Trends In Modern Corporation Legislation, Kenneth K. Luce Jun 1952

Trends In Modern Corporation Legislation, Kenneth K. Luce

Michigan Law Review

Any discussion of trends and developments in modem corporation legislation must assume some understanding of the historical antecedents of that legislation and the judicial approach to its interpretation. As a practical matter the outline of modern legislation has emerged within the memory of living men, but "in order to know what it is, we must know what it has been, and what it tends to become." The state is less concerned today than long ago about the corporation becoming a state within the state and usurping political power, although such concern could and does evidence itself from time to time. …


Corporations-Dissolution-Payment Of "Accrued Unpaid Dividends" To Preferred Shareholders From Capital, Frank M. Bowen, Jr. Feb 1952

Corporations-Dissolution-Payment Of "Accrued Unpaid Dividends" To Preferred Shareholders From Capital, Frank M. Bowen, Jr.

Michigan Law Review

The Big Bend Land Company was in the process of liquidation. The articles of incorporation provided for preferred stock which "in the event of any liquidation . . . " was " . . . entitled to be paid in full the par value thereof, and all accrued unpaid dividends thereon before any sum shall be paid to or any assets distributed among . . ." the common stock. No dividends had ever been declared or paid, nor had there ever been any surplus profits. After discharging all corporate liabilities, including payment of the par value of the preferred stock, …


Constitutional Law-Commerce Clause-State Regulation Of Interstate Commerce, William O. Allen Jun 1951

Constitutional Law-Commerce Clause-State Regulation Of Interstate Commerce, William O. Allen

Michigan Law Review

The City of Madison enacted an ordinance prohibiting the sale within the municipality's jurisdiction of milk not pasteurized and bottled within five miles of the city's central square. Plaintiff, an Illinois corporation engaged in distributing milk and milk products in Illinois and Wisconsin, had its pasteurization plant in Illinois, approximately sixty-five miles from Madison. After it had been denied a permit to distribute milk in Madison, plaintiff brought an action for a declaratory judgment as to the validity of the ordinance. The ordinance was upheld by the Wisconsin Supreme Court as a reasonable exercise of the municipality's police power. On …


Conflict Of Laws-Death By Wrongful Act-Recovery Under Foreign Statute, Douglas L. Mann S. Ed. Mar 1951

Conflict Of Laws-Death By Wrongful Act-Recovery Under Foreign Statute, Douglas L. Mann S. Ed.

Michigan Law Review

A was killed in an automobile accident occurring in Illinois. Alleging that defendant wrongfully caused A's death, A's administrator sought recovery in Wisconsin, basing his claim on the Illinois death act. The trial court granted defendant's motion for summary judgment. Held, affirmed, two justices dissenting. The Wisconsin death act allows recovery of damages for wrongful death "provided, that such action shall be brought for a death caused in this state." It follows that maintenance of an action for a death caused in a sister state is against the public policy of Wisconsin. Hughes v. Fetter, 257 …


Labor Law--Federal-State Relations--Validity Of Michigan's Labor Mediation Act, R. L. Storms S.Ed. Nov 1950

Labor Law--Federal-State Relations--Validity Of Michigan's Labor Mediation Act, R. L. Storms S.Ed.

Michigan Law Review

Plaintiff labor union called a strike against defendant auto corporation in May, 1948, without conforming to the prescribed state procedure. The purpose of the strike was to enforce demands for higher wages and the strike was conducted peacefully. To enjoin possible criminal prosecution the union instituted the instant suit in the state courts, contending that the Michigan labor mediation law, the much publicized "Bonine-Tripp Act," violated the due process and commerce clauses of the Federal Constitution. The Michigan Supreme Court reversed the decision of the trial court which had granted the injunction. On appeal, held, reversed. Congress has occupied …


Federal Courts-Use Of A Cross-Claim Under Rule 13(G) Of The Federal Rules Of Civil Procedure, Rex Eames S.Ed. Nov 1950

Federal Courts-Use Of A Cross-Claim Under Rule 13(G) Of The Federal Rules Of Civil Procedure, Rex Eames S.Ed.

Michigan Law Review

Under an ordinary automobile insurance policy, P insurance company promised to defend and indemnify Harvey for any suit arising from an accident involving his use of the insured truck. Collier sued Harvey in a state court alleging injuries due to the negligent use of the insured truck by two Harvey employees. Before judgment thereon, P, incorporated under the laws of Wisconsin, sued Harvey and Collier, citizens of Oklahoma, in the federal court. P sought a declaratory judgment on the grounds that (a) at the time of the accident the employees were under the control and supervision of the City …


Evidence-Status Of Microfilmed Business Records, William P. Sutter S. Ed. Feb 1950

Evidence-Status Of Microfilmed Business Records, William P. Sutter S. Ed.

Michigan Law Review

Many businesses today are turning to microfilm to record their essential papers in an effort to achieve ease and economy of operation through a reduction in storage requirements. Sixteen hundred pages of letter-press, transcripts or manuscripts can be reproduced on 100 feet of 35 mm. film to make a roll three inches in diameter. This is the equivalent of four thousand sheets of standard foolscap paper. Further illustrating the space savings is the fact that, on an average, the contents of 120 four-drawer file cabinets can be condensed into a single file cabinet and still leave some room for expansion. …


Equity-Power To Rescind Conveyance For Fraud-Survival, Stephen A. Bryant Jun 1949

Equity-Power To Rescind Conveyance For Fraud-Survival, Stephen A. Bryant

Michigan Law Review

Defendants obtained a deed from plaintiffs' testator shortly before he died. Plaintiffs, his residuary devisees, filed a bill seeking cancellation of the deed, alleging that it was procured by undue influence. Defendants demurred on the ground that undue influence is a species of fraud and the power to rescind a conveyance for fraud does not survive the grantor's death. The demurrer was overruled. On appeal, held, affirmed. The power to rescind was not extinguished by the grantor's death. Glojek v. Glojek, (Wis. 1948) 35 N.W. (2d) 203.


Practice And Procedure-Joint Tortfeasors-Cross Claim Against Co-Party, James F. Gordy Apr 1949

Practice And Procedure-Joint Tortfeasors-Cross Claim Against Co-Party, James F. Gordy

Michigan Law Review

Plaintiff was driving his team on the highway, closely followed by the auto of defendant Wood, which was in turn followed by that of defendant Perry. Perry, driving at a high rate of speed, collided with the rear of Wood's auto, causing it to collide with plaintiff's wagon. Plaintiff sued both defendants to recover for damage to himself and his wagon, alleging negligence in the conduct of each. Defendants answered, each denying his own negligence. Wood interposed a cross claim against Perry, alleging Perry's negligence to be the sole cause of the collision, and demanded judgment for damage to his …


Finders-Application Of Statute To Finder Of Treasure Trove, Zolman Cavitch Mar 1949

Finders-Application Of Statute To Finder Of Treasure Trove, Zolman Cavitch

Michigan Law Review

Defendants, a church committee, procured bundles of rags which were distributed to women who wove the rags into rugs. One such bundle was delivered to plaintiff who found $2100 in bills concealed therein. Plaintiff took the money to defendants, but no claimant appeared. A statute provided that a finder of lost money or goods having a value of $3.00 or more must give notice in a prescribed manner, or, failing to do so, be liable to the town in which found for one-half the value of the goods and for the other half to the person who should sue for …


Co-Tenancy-Conveyance By Grantor To Himself And Another, Shubrick T. Kothe Jun 1946

Co-Tenancy-Conveyance By Grantor To Himself And Another, Shubrick T. Kothe

Michigan Law Review

Decedent, owning land and personal property thereon, executed a deed purporting to convey to herself and her son a life estate in the property "as joint tenants during their joint lives and an absolute fee forever in the remainder to the survivor of them. . . " Held, the deed created a tenancy in common in both of them during their lives and an estate in fee to the survivor. Hass v. Hass, (Wis. 1946) 21 N.W. (2d) 398.


Joint Tenancy-Effect Of Word "Jointly"-Parol Evidence As To Intent Jun 1945

Joint Tenancy-Effect Of Word "Jointly"-Parol Evidence As To Intent

Michigan Law Review

The common law rule was well settled that a conveyance to two or more, not husband and wife, made them joint tenants, not tenants in common, unless language was used to show an intent that they were not to be joint tenants. The reason for such a rule having passed, the modern rule is to the opposite effect-two or more conveyees, with certain exceptions, are presumptively tenants in common. The Illinois statute, for example, declares that "no estate in joint tenancy in any lands ... shall be held or claimed under any grant . . . unless the premises therein …


Waters And Watercourses-Fishing-Right Of Public In Floatable Streams Feb 1944

Waters And Watercourses-Fishing-Right Of Public In Floatable Streams

Michigan Law Review

Through defendants' lands flowed a stream, a little over thirty feet in width and averaging in depth approximately one foot. It had a flow of less than fifty cubic feet per second. The stream was not capable of "commercial travel by any kind of boat" and it was doubtful whether it was "practical to use a boat on it in fishing." Some testimony indicated that in logging days some loose timber had been floated down the stream, but it was also testified by oldsters that it was "never possible to run logs down the stream without the use of dams." …


Damages - Breach Of Contract - Right To Compete In A Contest, Michigan Law Review Feb 1942

Damages - Breach Of Contract - Right To Compete In A Contest, Michigan Law Review

Michigan Law Review

Defendant organized a contest whereby the public was invited to guess the number of beans in a jar, the fifteen persons submitting the answers most nearly correct to be entitled to become participants in a "quiz contest" in which the prize was an automobile to be awarded to "the person who is the last to be eliminated." The participants drew for the order in which they were to be questioned, the plaintiff drawing first position. On the fourth round of questions the plaintiff missed the question put to him, and then the other contestant failed to answer correctly, whereupon the …


Trusts - Rights Of Successive Beneficiaries To Corporate Stock Dividends - Ordinary And Extraordinary Dividends, John C. Johnston May 1941

Trusts - Rights Of Successive Beneficiaries To Corporate Stock Dividends - Ordinary And Extraordinary Dividends, John C. Johnston

Michigan Law Review

Testatrix died in March, 1935 leaving 5,471 shares of N corporation stock in two trusts with directions that a portion of the income therefrom should be paid to her son during his life with remainder over to another. At the time of testatrix' death the N corporation had a large surplus, and had been paying regular quarterly dividends from current income. From April, 1935 to December, 1937 these quarterly dividends were continued at one dollar per share less than was customary, but because of business conditions they were paid partly from the surplus which had accumulated prior to the death …


Contracts - Consideration - Moral Obligation To Pay For Services Rendered In Past, Michigan Law Review Apr 1941

Contracts - Consideration - Moral Obligation To Pay For Services Rendered In Past, Michigan Law Review

Michigan Law Review

After decedent's wife died, claimants, her mother and sister, at the request of the decedent, broke up their home and came to live with him, to keep house for him and to care for his children. These services continued for ten years, at which time the decedent gave claimants his promissory notes aggregating $2,000. They entered these notes as claims against his estate. Held, the claimants' services, even if rendered gratuitously, were performed at the decedent's request and raised a moral obligation which was sufficient consideration for the notes. In re Schoenkerman's Estate, (Wis. 1940) 294 N. W. …


Constitutional Law-Appropriation For A Public Purpose, Michigan Law Review Apr 1941

Constitutional Law-Appropriation For A Public Purpose, Michigan Law Review

Michigan Law Review

A Wisconsin statute authorized the appropriation of state funds to the American Legion 1941 Convention Corporation of Milwaukee, for the purpose of paying the expenses attendant upon obtaining and holding the national convention in Milwaukee during 1941. The national organization of the American Legion was allowed to decide whether a deposit should be made with them to secure the payment of the expenses, and if so, how much the deposit should be. The Legion required that the city extending an invitation tender to the national organization a certified check for $27,050 to insure payment of estimated expenses. At the request …


Fraudulent Conveyances - Executory Consideration As "Fair Consideration" Under The Uniform Fraudulent Conveyance Act, Robert Kneeland Feb 1941

Fraudulent Conveyances - Executory Consideration As "Fair Consideration" Under The Uniform Fraudulent Conveyance Act, Robert Kneeland

Michigan Law Review

Plaintiff, a purchaser of mortgaged realty, claimed that there had been a series of conveyances of this property originating with a remote grantor, fraudulent as to said grantor's creditors. At the time plaintiff learned of this, he had already paid taxes on the property and paid $4605 on the purchase price, leaving a balance of $2986 due on his contract. Since, allegedly, plaintiff would have been subject to an action of the creditors to have the conveyance to him set aside/ plaintiff sought to join all creditors and defrauders in an attempt to clear the title, or, if the transaction …


Taxation - Federal Estate Tax - What Is A General Power Of Appointment Within The Meaning Of The Federal Statute?, John H. Pickering Jun 1940

Taxation - Federal Estate Tax - What Is A General Power Of Appointment Within The Meaning Of The Federal Statute?, John H. Pickering

Michigan Law Review

Decedent exercised her testamentary power to appoint the income of a discretionary trust. The commissioner declared a tax deficiency for failure to include the property subject to the power in the gross estate. The executor appealed on the ground that the power was a special power under Wisconsin law since the trustee could withhold the income from any beneficiary. Held, the power was general since it was exercisable in favor of the donee's estate or her creditors and therefore the exercise of the power was taxable under section 302(f) of the Revenue Act of 1926. Morgan v. Commissioner, …


Constitutional Law - Interstate Commerce - Validity Of Ordinance Requiring Drummer's License, Michigan Law Review Jun 1940

Constitutional Law - Interstate Commerce - Validity Of Ordinance Requiring Drummer's License, Michigan Law Review

Michigan Law Review

Defendant, a door-to-door salesman, solicited orders in Minnesota for goods, which were later shipped from his employer's factory in Wisconsin to his house in Minnesota. There he broke the original packages and filled his customers' orders by delivering the goods in a truck provided him by his employer. Defendant was convicted of violating a municipal ordinance requiring a license of all door-to-door canvassers. Held, the ordinance was unconstitutional as an unreasonable burden on interstate commerce, and the conviction should be set aside. City of Waseca v. Braun, (Minn. 1939) 288 N. W. 229.


Trusts-Right Of Divorced Wife Of Beneficiary Of Spendthrift Trust To Reach The Beneficiary's Interest In The Trust For Alimony And Support For Children, W. Wallace Kent May 1940

Trusts-Right Of Divorced Wife Of Beneficiary Of Spendthrift Trust To Reach The Beneficiary's Interest In The Trust For Alimony And Support For Children, W. Wallace Kent

Michigan Law Review

P, divorced wife of D, brought this action for alimony and for support money for her children. The object of the action was to reach the income from a spendthrift trust created for the benefit of D and his present wife and children in the will of D's mother. The will specifically provided that none of the proceeds of the trust were to go to P or her child. Held, the settlor had the right to devise her property in any manner she chose. There is nothing in the statutes or decisions of Wisconsin which forbid …


Municipal Corporations - Status Of A City Manager - Are His Functions Primarily Executive Or Legislative?, John H. Pickering Dec 1939

Municipal Corporations - Status Of A City Manager - Are His Functions Primarily Executive Or Legislative?, John H. Pickering

Michigan Law Review

When defendant city adopted the city-manager form of municipal government, it duly abolished by ordinance the board of police and fire commissioners and expressly assigned the board's powers and duties to the city manager. Among such powers was that of recommending salary decreases for firemen and policemen, without which recommendation a decrease by action of the council was invalid. After the abolition of the board of police and .fire commissioners, the council decreased the salary of plaintiff policeman without previous recommendation by the city manager. Plaintiff claimed that such action was invalid, and sued to recover the amount of the …


Municipal Corporations - Liability For Negligence Outside The City Limits, S. R. Stroud Nov 1939

Municipal Corporations - Liability For Negligence Outside The City Limits, S. R. Stroud

Michigan Law Review

The defendant, the city of Green Bay, without charge maintained and operated a toboggan slide outside the city limits. While using the slide, plaintiff was injured due to the alleged negligence of the city in failing to remove a snowdrift at the bottom of the slide. It was admitted that plaintiff would have stated a good case of actionable negligence had the slide been operated by a private person. Defendant's demurrer was overruled by the trial court. Held, reversed with direction to enter an order sustaining the demurrer. Gegelski v. City of Green Bay, (Wis. 1939) 285 N. …


Negligence - Proximate Cause - Fraud - False Statement By Druggist As To Ingredients Of Prescription, Michigan Law Review Apr 1939

Negligence - Proximate Cause - Fraud - False Statement By Druggist As To Ingredients Of Prescription, Michigan Law Review

Michigan Law Review

Plaintiff purchased from the defendant a prescription calling for an ingredient free from mercury, to which plaintiff was allergic. Defendant intentionally, for want of the other ingredient, substituted a commercial compound containing mercury without notifying the purchaser. Subsequent applications caused inflammation, and plaintiff's doctor inquired as to whether mercury was an ingredient of the prescription. Defendant, knowing otherwise, replied in the negative. Further applications in reliance upon the statement caused more serious injury. The jury found the defendant negligent in filling the prescription, but a verdict was returned for the defendant on the ground that the injury was not foreseeable; …


Evidence - Mailing - Inference Of Mailing Raised Through Proof Of Office Custom, Charles H. Haines Feb 1939

Evidence - Mailing - Inference Of Mailing Raised Through Proof Of Office Custom, Charles H. Haines

Michigan Law Review

In a suit on an accident insurance policy the defense of the insurer was that timely notice had been given of the revocation of the renewal privilege. At the trial, in order to raise the presumption that the notice was delivered to the insured, proof was offered that the letter was dictated and addressed in the large home office and given to the mail boy for posting according to the office custom. The letter was traced no further. On this evidence the court allowed the jury to find that the notice had been received. Plaintiff appealed. Held, reversed. The …