Law Commons^™

Trusts-Devices For Defeating Rights Of Creditors

Michigan Law Review

Attempts to protect property rights from the claims of creditors are faced at common law with the initial objection that restraints on the power of alienation are wholly ineffective. An exception has been recognized in this country in the case of equitable interests for life or for years. This exception, criticized severely at the time it was first recognized, has established itself in the law of most states in this country, though rejected in two jurisdictions.

Appeal And Error-Judicial Distrust Of The Jury

Michigan Law Review

A statute prescribed ten years in the state penitentiary as the minimum punishment for perjury committed on the trial of an indictment for a felony. In a prosecution for this offense, the trial court erroneously charged the jury that five years was the minimum punishment, to which the defendant excepted. Held, when defendant excepts to such instruction, it is reversible error for which a new trial will be granted. Roley v. State (Okla. Crim. App. 1930) 290 Pac. 195.

Carriers-Division Of Joint Rates

Michigan Law Review

The divisions here involved were those to be made in joint rates between points in southwestern territory and those in western trunk-line territory, or via western territory to and from eastern points. The line between western and southwestern territory passes through St. Louis and other Missouri and Illinois towns. The divisions of these joint rates between the carriers in these territories had been in existence for many years and were without uniform or rational basis. The Interstate Commerce Commission, investigating these divisions, found them more favor able to southwestern lines than present circumstances justified. Conditions in southwestern territory had become …

Carriers--Rates-Construction Of Hoch-Smith Resolution On Power Of Interstate Commerce Commission Over Railroad Rates

Michigan Law Review

California growers have for several years complained that railroad freight rates to eastern points on decidious fruits were unreasonably high, contributing to their suffering from the agricultural depression. In 1925, the Interstate Commerce Commission found these rates not reasonable nor unduly prejudicial, 100 I. C. C. 79. That year, Congress passed the Hoch-Smith Resolution, c. 120, 43 Stat. 801, 49 U. S. C. A. 55. This provided for investigation of rate structures by the Interstate Commerce Commission, and stated that in rate-making due regard should be paid to conditions in the various industries, the market-value levels of commodities, the natural …

Contracts-Rescission For Substantial Breach-Lien For Improvements Given Vendee

Michigan Law Review

For statement of facts see preceding note in this issue, Younger v. Caroselli, 251 Mich. 533, 232 N.W. 378.

According to the majority view in the United States, a builder, whose substantial breach of contract (the instant case can hardly be considered one of substantial performance) is merely negligent and in good faith, can recover the value of his labor and materials less the damage caused the promisee.

Crimes-Procedure-Variance Between Indictment And Proof

Michigan Law Review

The plaintiff was convicted of burglary under an indictment alleging that the article stolen was the joint property of two persons. The proof disclosed that it was the sole property of one of them, but this variance was at no time called to the attention of the lower court. On appeal, held, such variance was not reversible error. People v. Oswald (Ill. 1930) 172 N.E. 819.

Deeds-Side Of Lake As Boundary-Presumption That Grantee Takes To Center

Michigan Law Review

ln a conveyance of land adjoining a lake, the description read in part, "thence running northerly * * * to the Rockland Lake thence westwardly along the south side of the Rockland Lake." Held, that the grantee took to the center of the lake. White v. Knickerbocker Ice Co. et al. (N. Y. 1930) 172 N.E. 452.

Easements-Creation By Implied Reservation

Michigan Law Review

The owner oi a tract of land subdivided it into five lots and saved a twelve-foot strip for a driveway along the rear of each, making the lots accessible from a side street. The plaintiff and the defendant were purchasers of two of these lots. Some time after the sale of the defendant acquired all the original owner's interest in the driveway by a quitclaim deed and immediately began to erect a garage on the drive, thus preventing the plaintiff from using it. Held, that an easement arose by implied grant and that the plaintiff was, therefore, entitled to …

Evidence-Ballistics As Subject Matter Of Expert Testimony

Michigan Law Review

W, among other things a professional expert witness and a ballistics expert, testified that the bullet found in the body of the deceased was fired from the gun identified as being that of the defendant. Held, the evidence was properly admitted. People v. Fisher et al. (Ill. 1930) 172 N.E. 743.

Fraud-By Third Party-Mistake As To Nature Of Transaction-Rescission As Remedy

Michigan Law Review

The plaintiff was injured as a result of the alleged negligence of the defendant company. His attorney induced him to sign a general release, representing that it was only a receipt for seven hundred and fifty dollars paid on account by the defendant company. The plaintiff was illiterate and relied upon the fraudulent representations of his attorney. In an action to set aside the release, held, on a motion for judgment on the pleadings, that the complaint stated a cause of action, and that the plaintiff was not negligent in relying upon the representations of his attorney. Affirmed. Pimpinello …

Injunction-Against Tort-Balance Of Convenience

Michigan Law Review

The defendant railroad company held a lease for a right of way to and from the complainant's flour mill. In violation of their lease, and over the protest of the plaintiff, a side track was run from the branch track of the complainant to the track of the Litchfield Dairy Association and later extended to the plant of the defendant association, a competitor of the complainant. Held, the complainant was entitled to a decree restraining the defendants from moving cars for the defendant association over the complainant's side track. Affirmed. Stock and Sons v. Litchfield Coop. Shipper's Ass'n. et …

Injunction-Breach Of Negative Covenant-Adequate Remedy At Law

Michigan Law Review

The defendant, an owner of a gasoline station, entered into a contract with the plaintiff whereby he agreed to buy "all motor fuels handled, sold, or required" at his station from the plaintiff. He further agreed not to "sell, or allow to be sold on his premises * * * any other brands of motor fuel than those of the seller [plaintiff]." Before the expiration of the contract the defendant notified the plaintiff that he would no longer be bound by the contract. The lower court dismissed a bill praying for an injunction restraining the defendant from violating the negative …

Marriage--Common-Law Marriage After The Removal Of Impediments Existing At The Time Of The Ceremonial Marriage

Michigan Law Review

An action was instituted for the removal of respondent as administrator of the estate of X, on the ground that the respondent was not the legal husband of the intestate. Both respondent and deceased had living spouses at the time they entered into a ceremonial marriage in 1898, but whether or not they knew of the impediments to the validity of their marriage did not appear on the record. In 1924, the last obstacle to their marriage was removed by the death of respondent's first wife. The parties cohabited for thirty years and continued so to do subsequent to. the …

Master And Servant-Effect Of Servant's Ownership Of Instrumentality On Liability Of Master

Michigan Law Review

Defendant contracted with miners to dig out clay at ton-rate, the miners to furnish their own equipment. They buried their powder to prevent theft; but some boys found it and were injured in its explosion. Held, the miners were independent contractors, but that, if they were employees, they did not act within the scope of their employment in burying their powder. General Refractories Co. v. Mozier (Ky. 1930) 30 S.W.(2d) 952.

Master And Servant-Tests Of Independent Contract

Michigan Law Review

The claimant was employed by a dairy company to sell and deliver milk along a defined route, his "payment being in the form of a commission on each bottle sold. He was required to make daily payments in cash for milk and cream sold, but had the privilege of returning unsold milk or cream at the end of each day. Horses and vehicles were hired from the company at a stated price per day. Claimant was injured by a fall from his wagon while making deliveries. The State Industrial Board held him to be a servant and awarded him workmen's …

Mechanic's Liens-Time Of Filing-Completion Of Work

Michigan Law Review

The plaintiff contracted to do plumbing work, the contract containing a one-year guaranty. The work was finished in December, 1926, and in February, 1928, two months after the guaranty had expired, the plaintiff at the request of the owner (defendant), gratuitously made some minor repairs. In March, 1928, he filed a claim for a lien for the entire contract. Held, the work was completed when the guaranty expired and the plaintiff had no lien, since his claim was filed after the statutory limit from the completion of the work. Bohinek v. Smith (Ohio App. 1930) 172 N.E. 852.

Negligence-Implied Invitation

Michigan Law Review

The plaintiff's intestate was killed as a result of the defendant's failure to keep in repair a footway paralleling a railroad and vehicular toll bridge. Held, that the defendant, by permitting the public to use this footway, had impliedly invited its use and hence owed the deceased the duty of keeping the premises in a reasonably safe condition. Louisville, and Nashville R.R. v. Snow's Admr. (Ky. 1930) 30 S.W.(2d) 885.

Parent And Child-Education As A Necessary

Michigan Law Review

Defendant owned a farm where he and his family lived. He owned a car, paid his bills, and lived as comfortably as the average farmer. He provided piano lessons for his twelve-year old daughter, who showed an aptitude for music and was the pianist, of the neighborhood. For tuning a piano at the request of defendant's wife and daughter, plaintiff recovered a judgment of five dollars, based on a verdict that tuning the piano was a necessary for which defendant was liable. Held, that the amount being easily within the means of the father and the service necessary if …

Public Utilities-Power Of Commissoin To Change Rates Set In Franchise Granted By Legislature

Michigan Law Review

The Dry Dock Company was given franchises by the legislature to operate street railways in New York City, by Laws 1860, c. 512, and Laws 1866, cc. 866, 868, 883. These special laws fixed a five-cent maximum fare. Much later, the Public Service Commission Law (Cons. laws, c. 48) was enacted. Sec. 29 of this provided that, "unless the commission otherwise orders, no change shall be made in any rate * * * which shall have been filed and published by a common carrier * * * except after 30 days' notice to the commission * * * and all …

Specific Performance-Uncertainty Of Contract

Michigan Law Review

Bill for specific performance of a contract made with defendant's assignor. Defendant was the assignee of some leases, and took with notice of the contract with his assignor. By the contract the owner of the leases "sold, and does sell" to plaintiff all the natural gas that he might produce under them. Either party was given the right to terminate if production fell below a certain point, and it was also provided that unless terminated under this provision, the contract was to remain in force during the entire time that gas was produced "in paying or marketable quantities." Defendant showed …

Statutes-"Reasonable Speed"-Interpretation

Michigan Law Review

In an action for damages arising out of an accident the instruction was given :that the intersection was a closely built-up portion of the city within the meaning of sec. 12003, 110 Ohio Laws p. 138 which provided, "A rate of speed greater than fifteen miles an hour in the business or closely built-up portions of a municipal corporation or more than twenty-five miles an hour in other portions thereof * * * shall be prima facie evidence of a rate of speed greater than is reasonable and proper." Upon each corner of the intersection there were buildings two or …

Torts-Negligence-Duty To A Seen Trespasser-Child Trespassers

Michigan Law Review

The defendant was hired by the owner of some waste land to cut down a tree. The land was unfenced and the children of the neighborhood used. it as a playground, although they had no license to do so. When the cutting of the tree began, a crowd of children gathered, and though driven away they returned. With but one root remaining the defendant cut it without further warning, and the infant plaintiff was injured by the falling tree. The trial court found that the defendant was guilty of negligence; that this negligence was the proximate cause of plaintiff's injury; …

Wills-Presentation Of Claims

Michigan Law Review

An action on a contract was commenced against the testator during his life time. After his death notice was given to claimants to present their claims as provided by statute, P. L. 1920 p. 96. On the expiration of the time limit the court granted a rule barring further presentation of claims. The action begun against the testator was then revived against the executor in pursuance of statutory authority, 1 Comp. St. 1910, p. 4. Held, that the action commenced against the testator was properly revived against the executor in accordance with the abatement statute, supra. Pull v. Nagle …

The Law Of Unfair Competition And Trademarks, Milton Handler

Michigan Law Review

A Review of THE LAW OF UNFAIR COMPETITION AND TRADEMARKS By Harry D. Nims.

Corporate Personality, Henry Rottschaeffer

Michigan Law Review

A review of CORPORATE PERSONALITY By Frederick Hallis.

Cases On Pleadings And Procedure, Mason Ladd

Michigan Law Review

A review of CASES ON PLEADINGS AND PROCEDURE By Charles E. Clark.

Law And The Modern Mind, Burke Shartel

Michigan Law Review

A review of LAW AND THE MODERN MIND By Jerome Frank.

Carriers-Contract Against Liability For Negligence By Telephone Company

Michigan Law Review

Plaintiff sought to recover for damages to its business resulting from the failure of defendant company to list plaintiff's main office and number and the incorrect listing of plaintiff's branch office in the 1928 telephone directory plaintiff being a subscriber to defendant's service. The contract of service contained a clause providing that defendant shall not be liable "for damages arising from errors or omissions in the making up or printing of its directory." The court held that in the absence of any showing of gross negligence or wilful misconduct; there was no liability for the omission and error. Hamilton Employment …

Law In The Making, Burke Shartel

Michigan Law Review

A review of LAW IN THE MAKING By Carleton Kemp Allen.

Trusts-Right Of Trustee To Reimbursement For Tort Liability

Michigan Law Review

The recent New York case, In re Lathers presents the question seldom before raised whether a trustee may be reimbursed from the trust estate for tort liability to a third person through his negligence in management of the estate. In that case, as a result of fire in an apartment building of the trust property, the trustee suffered judgments for $62,000 plus costs. The rooms of one apartment, rented by the trustee's agent, had been closed off by the lessee to form several small apartments. For the one subleased to the tort creditor, access to fire escapes, adequate normally, was …