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Michigan Law Review

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Full-Text Articles in Law

Evidence-Other Crimes Feb 1931

Evidence-Other Crimes

Michigan Law Review

Judging from the number of opinions handed down in 1930 involving evidence of other crimes committed by the defendant, the modem criminal trial is not complete without some attempt to introduce evidence of this sort.


Aliens-Probationary Period In Naturalization Feb 1931

Aliens-Probationary Period In Naturalization

Michigan Law Review

The petitioner, a Norwegian, who was awaiting a final hearing upon his petition for naturalization, married a Norwegian woman in Windsor, Ontario, believing that their marriage would make it possible for her to enter the United States. Upon application to the American consul they were advised that she would have to wait for a vacancy under the Norwegian quota. The wife could speak no English, they had little money, and the husband believed that his employment depended upon his immediate return to Detroit. In desperation they hired a boat and crossed the St. Clair River to the United States where …


Bills And Notes-Checks-Effect Of Alteration Before Acceptance Upon The Acceptor Feb 1931

Bills And Notes-Checks-Effect Of Alteration Before Acceptance Upon The Acceptor

Michigan Law Review

The plaintiff, drawee, sued to recover money paid to the defendant on a certified check in which the name of the payee had been cleverly altered, and which had been indorsed and negotiated by the substituted payee. The plaintiff had certified the check prior to the negotiation to the defendant, an innocent purchaser for value. Held, that under sec. 62 of the N. I. L. the acceptor "engages that he will pay it [the instrument] according to the tenor of his acceptance; and admits, * * * 2. The existence of the payee and his then capacity to indorse"; …


Contracts-Breach Of Implied Warranty That Construction Be Usable For Purpose Intended Feb 1931

Contracts-Breach Of Implied Warranty That Construction Be Usable For Purpose Intended

Michigan Law Review

Plaintiff and defendant entered into a contract by the terms of which defendant was to assign to plaintiff an equity in a land contract to purchase a lot. The plaintiff was to complete the payments and sell to the defendant on a land contract this same lot with a house and garage to be erected by the plaintiff, an experienced builder, according to plans and specifications to be drawn by the latter. The defendant was to be given credit for the amount he had previously paid on the lot, and the price was further reduced by the defendant doing the …


Corporations-What Amounts To Practice Of Law-Solution Of The Difficulty By Agreements Feb 1931

Corporations-What Amounts To Practice Of Law-Solution Of The Difficulty By Agreements

Michigan Law Review

The defendant trust company advertised that it made a specialty of drawing contracts, deeds, mortgages and wills. It also purported to specialize in the drawing of trust agreements and the management of estates. In a statutory contempt proceeding, upon proof of the performance of these functions for compensation, held the defendant was engaged in the practice of law, and guilty of contempt. In re Eastern Idaho Loan and Trust, Co. (Idaho 1930) 288 Pac. 157.


Evidence-Contributory Negligence-Burden Of Proof-Presumption Of Due Care Jan 1931

Evidence-Contributory Negligence-Burden Of Proof-Presumption Of Due Care

Michigan Law Review

This case was an administrator's action to recover damages for the death of the plaintiff's intestate who was struck by an automobile operated by the defendant. There were no eyewitnesses other than the decedent and the defendant. On trial the plaintiff introduced evidence of the defendant's negligence, but under the circumstances of the case, was unable to introduce affirmative evidence that the decedent was free from contributory negligence. Held, one judge dissenting, that there was no presumption that the decedent exercised due care, and therefore, the non-suit granted by the lower court was affirmed. Kotler v. Lalley (Conn. 1930) …


Insurance-Automobile Club Membership-Contract To Furnish Legal Services Jan 1931

Insurance-Automobile Club Membership-Contract To Furnish Legal Services

Michigan Law Review

Complainant automobile club agreed to furnish its members with the services of an attorney, but not to pay judgments rendered, in any action brought by or against any member as a result of the ownership, or operation, of his automobile. Held, a contract of insurance. Allin v. Motorists' Alliance (Ky. 1930) 29 S.W. (2d) 19.


Land Title Registration-Effect Of Registration Of Forged Deed And Transfer To Bona Fide Purchaser Under Torrens Act Jan 1931

Land Title Registration-Effect Of Registration Of Forged Deed And Transfer To Bona Fide Purchaser Under Torrens Act

Michigan Law Review

Plaintiffs, purchasers of land previously brought under Illinois Torrens Act, delivered certificate of title to party under agreement to sell, who forged deed to himself, had certificate issued in his name, and then conveyed to defendants who were good faith purchasers for value. Plaintiffs informed registrar of the forgery after the defendants had bought, and demanded cancellation of the deeds and certificates, and the reissue of a certificate to themselves. The registrar refused, and this petition was brought to compel such action. Held, plaintiffs having voluntarily bought land brought under Torrens system, there was a waiver of any constitutional …


Powers-Wills-Exercise By Will Of Special Power Subsequently Conferred Jan 1931

Powers-Wills-Exercise By Will Of Special Power Subsequently Conferred

Michigan Law Review

T by will not only exercised a power already given her in favor of her husband but also any powers of appointment which she might derive from her father's will or otherwise. T's father subsequently executed a settlement allowing T to appoint to her husband "if she shall by deed or will appoint." T died without making a new will. Held, there was no valid exercise of the power, for the donor contemplated an act future to the settlement, as is shown by the words "if she shall." In re Bower, [1930] 2 Ch. 82.


Quasi-Contracts--Improvements On Land Of Another By Mistake Jan 1931

Quasi-Contracts--Improvements On Land Of Another By Mistake

Michigan Law Review

Plaintiffs filed a bill in chancery seeking compensation for a house built on the defendants' lot due to an error on the part of the plaintiffs. The lower court granted a decree offering the defendants the election of taking the improvements at a fair value found by the court or of releasing the lot to the plaintiffs on the plaintiffs' paying its fair value. On appeal, held, this relief was proper. Hardy et al. v. Burroughs et al. (Mich. 1930) 232 N.W. 200.


Sales-Conditional Sales-Resale By Seller Jan 1931

Sales-Conditional Sales-Resale By Seller

Michigan Law Review

Plaintiff bought fourteen cabs from defendant on a conditional sate contract, and after paying more than fifty per cent of the purchase price defaulted in his payments. Defendant then retook possession of the cabs and undertook to foreclose plaintiff's interest therein by a resale at public auction, as required by the Uniform Conditional Sales Act, in force in the jurisdiction. The specific requirements of the Act relative to notice of the sale were complied with, but the notices did not state where the cabs were being kept, and at the time of the sale they were in a garage miles …


Conflict Of Laws Treatment Of Interpretation And Construction Of Deeds In Reference To Covenants, Raymond J. Hellman Jan 1931

Conflict Of Laws Treatment Of Interpretation And Construction Of Deeds In Reference To Covenants, Raymond J. Hellman

Michigan Law Review

It is submitted that the terms "interpretation" and "construction" and the verbs "interpret" and "construe" should be used with distinct significations. There are two types of problems with reference to which these terms are used, often ambiguously and unclearly. In one type of problem a question is presented and sought to be answered as to what someone actually or apparently intended. There is an effort to reach a result which was actually desired even though the data tending to show this may be of limited utility. In the other type of problem it is recognized or realized either that there …


Changing Factors Of Reasonable Rates, Clarence M. Updegraff Jan 1931

Changing Factors Of Reasonable Rates, Clarence M. Updegraff

Michigan Law Review

In this period of financial difficulties there arise many old familiar problems. Some are inherent in times of "tight" money; some perhaps may be solved once and for all; others may possibly be met in such a way that certain of their had features will be permanently modified. In this last class seem to lie certain problems of public utility financing.


Jurisdiction For The Purpose Of Imposing Inheritance Taxes, David R. Mason Jan 1931

Jurisdiction For The Purpose Of Imposing Inheritance Taxes, David R. Mason

Michigan Law Review

For nearly half a century so-called inheritance tax laws of the states of the United States have been predicated upon two distinct theories of jurisdiction, many states embodying both theories into their statutes. Recent decisions rendered by the Supreme Court of the United States, however, challenge the constitutionality of such a scheme and indicate the expediency of a review of the extent of state jurisdiction for the purpose of imposing such taxes.


Libel And Slander-Liability Of A Telegraph Company For The Transmission Of A Defamatory Message Jan 1931

Libel And Slander-Liability Of A Telegraph Company For The Transmission Of A Defamatory Message

Michigan Law Review

It is surprising that despite the tremendous number of messages handled, covering almost every conceivable subject, the question of the liability of a telegraph company for the transmission of a defamatory message has arisen in but half a dozen jurisdictions. The earliest reported case, decided in 1858 when the law as to the tort liability of a corporation was still in the formative period, asserted the liability of the telegraph company on the sole ground that a corporation could be guilty of malice. Following a series of cases arising in the state and federal courts of Minnesota, a modern rule …


Insurance-Misrepresentations-Insertion Of False Answers By Medical Examiner Jan 1931

Insurance-Misrepresentations-Insertion Of False Answers By Medical Examiner

Michigan Law Review

If an applicant for life insurance, in answering the many questions put to him by the company's medical representative, tells the truth, but the examiner, in recording the answers, distorts them without the knowledge of the insured, may the beneficiary or the personal representative of the insured show this distortion by parol, and collect on the policy in spite of the presence of false written answers in the application? The New York court of appeals, in the very recent case, Minsker v. John Hancock Mutual Life Insurance Co., 254 N. Y. 333, 173 N.E. 4, answers this question in …


Corporations-Right Of General Creditors, After Appointment Of Receiver In Suit Brought For Foreclsoure Of Mortgage Covering Major Portion Of Assets, To Have Receivership Extended For Protection And Eventual Liquidation Of Unmortgaged Assets Jan 1931

Corporations-Right Of General Creditors, After Appointment Of Receiver In Suit Brought For Foreclsoure Of Mortgage Covering Major Portion Of Assets, To Have Receivership Extended For Protection And Eventual Liquidation Of Unmortgaged Assets

Michigan Law Review

When the affairs of a corporation become so involved that it is not able to meet its maturing obligations as they become due and it is necessary either that the corporation be reorganized on a more sound financial basis or that its assets be liquidated in an orderly manner, to the best advantage of its creditors and stockholders, it is customary, as a basis for such reorganization or liquidation, to have a receiver appointed of all the property and assets of the corporation. Such receivership is usually precipitated by the filing in the federal court of a bill of complaint …


Trust Estates To Accumulate Income Jan 1931

Trust Estates To Accumulate Income

Michigan Law Review

Testator left his realty in trust to apply the net income, after the payment of certain expenses, eighty percent to the use of a charity and certain persons. the other twenty percent to a sinking fund "to restore, replace or make major improvements or additions to the buildings and improvements" of that realty. The income from the accumulated fund was to be paid to the charity; the principal expended at such times as the trustees deemed necessary. It was claimed the provision for this fund constituted an unlawful direction to accumulate income. Held: that income applied to the replacement of …


Trusts-Effect Of Exculpatory Clauses In Trust Indentures Jan 1931

Trusts-Effect Of Exculpatory Clauses In Trust Indentures

Michigan Law Review

The trust mechanism is today the common method of issuing corporate bonds. If the bonds are mortgage bonds, the corporation pursuant to a trust agreement, executes or assigns the mortgage to a trustee, usually a bank or trust company which holds the mortgage for the benefit of all the bondholders. In other situations collateral security is placed in the hands of the trustee. In both cases, the trustee certifies the corporation's bonds as having been issued under the terms of the trust indenture.


Carriers - Liability For Goods Lost By Express Company While Performing Service Contrary To The Filed Tariff Jan 1931

Carriers - Liability For Goods Lost By Express Company While Performing Service Contrary To The Filed Tariff

Michigan Law Review

The filed tariff of the defendant express company provided that packages containing money would be received only when delivered at the office of the express company. It was the custom of the defendant. contrary to the tariff provisions, to send a special truck to the office of the shippers when notified that money was to be transported. A shipment oi the plaintiff was thus called for, and the money lost when the truck was held up on the way to the express office. Defendant contended that the service was in violation of the tariff, and that no recovery could be …


Contracts - Consideration - Forbearance To Exercise A Right Jan 1931

Contracts - Consideration - Forbearance To Exercise A Right

Michigan Law Review

Defendant was the assignee of a mortgage on a farm owned by the plaintiff. He gave newspaper notice of intent to foreclose, and ten days before the foreclosure period expired he signed and delivered to the plaintiff a writing in which he "agreed" to pay them three thousand dollars "providing said foreclosure of mortgage expires in my name." The foreclosure did so expire and this suit was brought to recover the money promised. Held, the promise is not enforceable, due to lack of consideration. Shaw v. Philbrick (Me. 1930) 151 Atl. 423.


Corporations-Power To Delegate Management For Long Period Jan 1931

Corporations-Power To Delegate Management For Long Period

Michigan Law Review

The corporate parties contracted that in consideration of certain commissions to be paid to the plaintiff, the defendant insurance company should delegate to the plaintiff corporation complete and exclusive control and management of its entire business for a period of twenty years. In an action to recover commissions, held, that the contract was void on the ground of public policy, and that there could be no recovery. Sherman & Ellis, Inc., v. Indiana Mutual Casualty Company (C. C. A. 7th Cir.) 41 F.(2d) 588.


Corporations-Preparation Of Stockholders' List-Statutory Provision Jan 1931

Corporations-Preparation Of Stockholders' List-Statutory Provision

Michigan Law Review

On a petition challenging the legality of an election of directors at a special meeting, one of the contentions was that calling this meeting on five days' notice violated section 29 of the Delaware General Corporation Act, as amended by 36 Del. Laws, c. 135, sec. 15, which provided that a list of stockholders entitled to vote be made by the officer in charge, ten days before every election. Held, this is not grounds for avoiding the election; the provisions of the statute are directory only, and where a by-law of the corporation required five days' notice for special …


Corporations-Stockholders' Liability-Effect Of Fraud In The Subscription Contract Jan 1931

Corporations-Stockholders' Liability-Effect Of Fraud In The Subscription Contract

Michigan Law Review

The Minnesota constitution with certain exceptions provides for double liability of stockholders. In a suit brought by the receiver of U. S. I. Realty Co., referred to by the court as No. 2 Corporation, to collect an assessment on the stock of that corporation under such liability imposed by the constitution, defendant contended that he was not liable for the reason that when he made his investment in the stock of that company and received his stock certificates he thought that he was investing in the stock of U. S. Installment Realty Co., referred to by the court as No. …


Covenants--Mistake Of Law--Warranty Against Jan 1931

Covenants--Mistake Of Law--Warranty Against

Michigan Law Review

The Municipal Metallic Bed Mfg. Co. leased a building from Dobbs in reliance on his representation that it was not illegal to manufacture in said building, and the lease contained a warranty to that effect, and a promise to indemnify the Bed Co. for any loss sustained in case it should prove illegal to use the building for the purpose intended. It later proved that due to the New York building code the building could not be used for manufacturing, and the Bed. Co. sued for the loss it sustained as a result. Held, plaintiff could recover on the …


Crimes--Acts Done In Commision Of Felony-Common Design Jan 1931

Crimes--Acts Done In Commision Of Felony-Common Design

Michigan Law Review

A group of rioting convicts freed the defendants from their cells in Auburn Prison. The defendants joined in a demand on the prison authorities for liberty to leave the prison safely, and in a threat, in case of resistance to their efforts and demands, to kill the warden and seven guards, who had been captured and disarmed and were held as hostages. The prison authorities adopted a ruse. They permitted the convicts to go into the guard room with the captured personnel, where gas bombs were then discharged. Six to a score of shots were fired, all coming, according to …


Crimes-Former Jeopardy-Prosecution In Two Counties For A Continuous Act Jan 1931

Crimes-Former Jeopardy-Prosecution In Two Counties For A Continuous Act

Michigan Law Review

Defendants transported liquor by a single, uninterrupted act from A county to B county in the same state. Having been convicted and fined in B county for the transportation within its boundaries, they were later indicted in A county for that part of the transportation which took place in that territory. A plea of former jeopardy was sustained by the trial judge, and on appeal this holding was affirmed by a divided court, which held, the act constituted a single offense, punishable in either county, but not in both. State v. Shimman et al. (Ohio, 1930) 172 N.E. 367.


Crimes-Speedy Trial-Justification For Delay Jan 1931

Crimes-Speedy Trial-Justification For Delay

Michigan Law Review

The defendant was convicted under a state prohibition statute. The information was filed on June 7, 1929, and no further proceedings were taken against him for more than sixty days thereafter. The defendant moved to dismiss the suit on the ground that he had not had a speedy trial. No jury was on duty during the months of July, August, and the early part of September. Held, that the constitutional guaranty of a speedy trial was not infringed by such delay. State v. Vukich (Wash. 1930) 290 Pac. 992.


Divorce-Award Not Of "Alimony"-Modification Jan 1931

Divorce-Award Not Of "Alimony"-Modification

Michigan Law Review

In a divorce decree the court incorporated an agreement of the parties to the effect that the husband should pay to the wife "as permanent alimony the sum of $1,200 per annum, to be paid in monthly installments for the period of the wife's life." Upon remarriage of the wife, the husband filed a bill praying for an order modifying the decree. Held, the original decree was not a decree for alimony, but was an incorporation of an agreement of the parties, and therefore the court lacked power to modify it. Spear v. Spear (Md. 1930) 149 AtI. 468.


Easements-Abandonment Jan 1931

Easements-Abandonment

Michigan Law Review

A driftway across the defendant's land was created by grant, giving the plaintiff his only access to the highway. The need for a way having ceased, it had not been used by the dominant owner for about twenty-five years, and in places was so overgrown as to be almost impassable. Moreover, the defendant moved two buildings in the line of the way, and about five years previously had prevented the plaintiff from cutting brush within its bounds. The lower court held that these facts constituted an abandonment, but this was held to be error on appeal. Byard v. Hoelscher (Conn. …