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Michigan Law Review

1958

Torts

Liability

Articles 1 - 13 of 13

Full-Text Articles in Law

Air Law - Imputed Negligence - Liability Of Airplane Owner For Negligence Of Pilot, George E. Lohr S.Ed. Nov 1958

Air Law - Imputed Negligence - Liability Of Airplane Owner For Negligence Of Pilot, George E. Lohr S.Ed.

Michigan Law Review

Plaintiff, passenger in an airplane owned by defendant as proprietor of the flight school and piloted by a flight trainee with defendant's permission, suffered injuries in a crash allegedly caused by the negligence of the pilot and brought this action against defendant owner to recover damages. The trial court sustained defendant's motion to dismiss the complaint. On appeal, held, reversed and remanded for new trial. If the allegations of negligence of the pilot are found to be true, defendant would be liable for plaintiff's injuries even though he was not in actual control of the airplane. The governing statutory …


A Comment On The Law Of Torts, Luke K. Cooperrider Jun 1958

A Comment On The Law Of Torts, Luke K. Cooperrider

Michigan Law Review

The recently-published treatise by Professors Harper and James, The Law of Torts, which is the subject of this article is no routine publication. It is not a mere recasting in different language of an already familiar synthesis; nor is it the kind of book one keeps around for casual reference. It is, rather, a statement of a philosophy of tort liability which, by reason of its consonance with much of the currently vocal thought in the field, and by reason of the powers of analysis and expression that the authors have brought to bear, is almost certainly destined to …


Liability Insurance - Cooperation Clause - Failure Of Cooperation Absent A Finding Of Prejudice, Edward B. Stulberg S.Ed. May 1958

Liability Insurance - Cooperation Clause - Failure Of Cooperation Absent A Finding Of Prejudice, Edward B. Stulberg S.Ed.

Michigan Law Review

Plaintiff insurance company sought a declaratory judgment absolving it from obligation on an automobile liability insurance policy on the ground that there had been a breach of the cooperation clause. Johnston, the insured, was the driver of a car involved in an accident in Crawford County, Kansas, giving rise to substantial claims by defendant Elliott. At the request of Elliott's attorney, Johnston traveled from his home in Kansas to submit to service of process in Missouri. When plaintiff questioned this behavior, Johnston lied, denying that collusion had prompted his appearance in Missouri. On appeal from summary judgment for plaintiff company, …


Torts - Prima Facie Tort - Liability For Instigation Of Police Investigation Or Prosecution, John H. Jackson May 1958

Torts - Prima Facie Tort - Liability For Instigation Of Police Investigation Or Prosecution, John H. Jackson

Michigan Law Review

Plaintiff organized a corporation for the purpose of collecting funds from the public to aid cancer victims. Defendant, well-known columnist engaged in soliciting money for a rival cancer fund, was alleged, inter alia, to have instigated state and federal government investigations and prosecutions that resulted in plaintiff being criminally convicted and subsequently acquitted on a new trial after appeal. As a consequence of these actions, public confidence had been destroyed in plaintiff's cancer fund corporation and it had ceased to function. Plaintiff complained that defendant's actions were done with the intention of harming plaintiff and had resulted in plaintiff's loss …


Corporations - Clayton Act - Service Of Process On Alien Corporations Through Their Local Subsidiaries, George R. Haydon Jr. Mar 1958

Corporations - Clayton Act - Service Of Process On Alien Corporations Through Their Local Subsidiaries, George R. Haydon Jr.

Michigan Law Review

Two affiliated German corporations, one of which is the defendant, established a jointly owned subsidiary in New York. Three members of the subsidiary's five-man board of directors are officers or directors of the German parents, while a fourth is a former employee sent to this country to manage the subsidiary. The American company is devoted exclusively to the business of the German parents. It assists in the negotiation of contracts, although it has no power to bind the parents, advises with respect to patents, and makes infrequent sales and purchases. For these services, it receives a flat fee plus a …


Contribution - Joint Liability - Claimant Not A Volunteer But Not Subject To A Common Liability, Melvyn I. Mozinski Mar 1958

Contribution - Joint Liability - Claimant Not A Volunteer But Not Subject To A Common Liability, Melvyn I. Mozinski

Michigan Law Review

A passenger was injured while riding in an automobile driven by D when it collided with a car driven by C. In the passenger's action for damages against C, C cross-complained against D. On the day of trial C settled with the passenger with the knowledge and approval of D. In the ensuing suit for contribution both C and D denied negligence; the jury found that D was negligent and that C was in no way at fault. Since there was no common liability shown, C's claim for contribution was dismissed. C moved to have …


Atomic Energy - Indemnity Legislation - Anderson Amendments To The Atomic Energy Act Of 1954, Dudley H. Chapman S.Ed. Mar 1958

Atomic Energy - Indemnity Legislation - Anderson Amendments To The Atomic Energy Act Of 1954, Dudley H. Chapman S.Ed.

Michigan Law Review

The Anderson Amendments were enacted to encourage private industry to enter the atomic energy field by removing the risk of excessive liability for a major nuclear reactor disaster. Such a disaster could result in liability far in excess of available insurance coverage. The solution provided by the new legislation has three aspects: (1) After private financial protection, geared to the amount of available insurance, is obtained by a person licensed by the Atomic Energy Commission, (2) the Commission will execute an agreement to indemnify (not insure) the licensee and "any other person who may be liable for public liability" to …


Insurance - Recovery - Delay Of Insurance Company In Rejecting Application For Insurance, Harry D. Krause S.Ed. Feb 1958

Insurance - Recovery - Delay Of Insurance Company In Rejecting Application For Insurance, Harry D. Krause S.Ed.

Michigan Law Review

Plaintiff, designated as beneficiary by deceased life insurance applicant, sued defendant life insurance company in assumpsit. Deceased, a combat pilot in the Korean War, had applied for one of defendant's policies, passed the medical examination, and made several premium payments on the policy. After the applicant was killed in combat defendant refused payment, contending that it had never accepted the risk but that it had responded to the application with a counter offer containing an aviation waiver. Because of ·the applicant's frequent change of address and his early death this proposal had never been communicated to him. On appeal from …


Negligence - Duty Of Care - Effect Of Time Lapse On Manufacturer's Duty, John Paul Williams Feb 1958

Negligence - Duty Of Care - Effect Of Time Lapse On Manufacturer's Duty, John Paul Williams

Michigan Law Review

Plaintiff suffered injuries when the fly wheel on a truck he was driving gave way, causing the truck to crash. He brought an action in damages against defendant, manufacturer of the truck, alleging defective design and manufacture of the fly wheel. The truck had been safely used for at least five years prior to the accident and had been driven 200,000 to 400,000 miles during that period. On defendant's motion for directed verdict, held, granted. There is no evidence whatever that the defendant failed to exercise reasonable care. Also, use of the truck for five years results in a …


Torts - Libel And Slander - Effect Of An Unsustained Plea Of Truth, Frank D. Jacobs Feb 1958

Torts - Libel And Slander - Effect Of An Unsustained Plea Of Truth, Frank D. Jacobs

Michigan Law Review

Plaintiff, superintendent of a state training school for boys, was removed from that office by his superior in the state department of social welfare. The defendant corporation, publisher and owner of two newspapers in the state, published certain articles in its newspapers relating to plaintiff's conduct in office, his management of the school, and his removal from office. Plaintiff brought action of libel. Defendant, in addition to a plea of general issue, filed a plea of truth. The trial court instructed the jury that where truth is pleaded as a defense, but is not successful, such plea will sustain an …


Torts - Privacy - Collection Method, Frederic Brace S.Ed. Feb 1958

Torts - Privacy - Collection Method, Frederic Brace S.Ed.

Michigan Law Review

Plaintiff disputed the debt which the defendant corporation asserted against her. Defendant made no attempt to recover this asserted debt by legal action but instead sent a letter to the personnel director of plaintiff's employer. This letter stated that plaintiff had refused to cooperate in reaching an amicable settlement and requested the assistance of the personnel director in collecting this "honest debt." Plaintiff was then summoned to the office of her superior and informed that the letter would be placed in her file and remain there until the asserted indebtedness had been settled. Plaintiff sought damages for an invasion of …


Municipal Corporations - Tort Liability - Liability For Torts Committed By Municipal Employees In Exercise Of Governmental Functions, Ralph E. Boches Jan 1958

Municipal Corporations - Tort Liability - Liability For Torts Committed By Municipal Employees In Exercise Of Governmental Functions, Ralph E. Boches

Michigan Law Review

Plaintiff sued the Town of Cocoa Beach for damages for the alleged wrongful death of her husband. Plaintiff's husband had died of smoke suffocation after being locked in a jail which was left unattended by the city jailor. The lower court dismissed plaintiff's complaint. On appeal, held, reversed. A person injured by the negligence of a municipal employee acting within the scope of his employment may recover against the municipal corporation. Hargrove v. Town of Cocoa Beach, (Fla. 1957) 96 S. (2d) 130.


Constitutional Law - Due Process - Jurisdiction Of State Court Over Nonresident Tortfeasor, J. Martin Cornell Jan 1958

Constitutional Law - Due Process - Jurisdiction Of State Court Over Nonresident Tortfeasor, J. Martin Cornell

Michigan Law Review

The defendant, a resident of Wisconsin, was engaged in the business of selling appliances and sent one of his employees to deliver a gas cooking stove to the plaintiff in Illinois. Claiming that the employee had negligently injured him in unloading the stove, the plaintiff brought action in Illinois, seeking damages of $7,500. A summons was personally served on the defendant in Wisconsin, and the defendant appeared specially, moving to quash the summons on the ground that the Illinois statute, providing for extraterritorial service on any person who commits a tortious act within the state, contravened the constitutions of the …