Law Commons^™

Federal Courts-Appeals-Federal Rule 54(B) And The Final Judgment Rule, W. Stirling Maxwell S.Ed.

Michigan Law Review

The Judicial Code provides that "the circuit courts of appeal shall have appellate jurisdiction to review by appeal final decisions . . . in the district courts, in all cases save where a direct review may be had to the Supreme Court . . . . " But what is a final ( that is, appealable) decision? The final judgment rule, originated by the English common law courts and embodied in the Federal Judiciary Act of 1789, was stated by Justice Brandeis in Collins v. Miller to require "that the judgment to be appealable should be final not only as …

Courts - Due Process- Findings Of Fact By Court On Basis Of Transcript Where Master Has Not Submitted Report, J. R. Mackenzie S.Ed.

Michigan Law Review

After taking evidence upon a matter referred to him, a master in chancery closed the proofs, but died before making his report. The district court, after receiving briefs of counsel and hearing argument, made an ultimate finding based on the transcript of evidence. Held, such action by a court which has not seen the witnesses is not in accord with due process. Smith v. Dental Products Co., (C.C.A. 7th, 1948) 168 F. (2d) 516.

New Trial - Use Of Testimony Of Jurors To Set Aside Verdict, R. J. Nordstrom S.Ed.

Michigan Law Review

Whether or not testimony of a juror is admissible for the purpose of setting aside a verdict is a question upon which the cases are in conflict. Much of the contrariety of opinion is due to a failure of courts to distinguish between the two basic factual situations which present the problem. The juror's testimony may be sought to be introduced to show either: (1) that, due to some misunderstanding, his own thought processes were misdirected in arriving at his final vote; or, (2) that he observed the open misconduct of a fellow juror. At the outset it should be …

Evidence-Hearsay-Admissibility Of History Statements In Hospital Record Under Business Entries Statute, Ralph E. Hunt

Michigan Law Review

Plaintiff sued for injuries allegedly resulting when the door of defendant's bus closed on plaintiff's ankle as he was attempting to board the bus, throwing him to the ground. Defendant offered in evidence, under the Uniform Business Records as Evidence Act, in effect in Delaware, hospital records containing the entry: "Patient states he twisted ankle while walking along the street." The interne who treated plaintiff and qualified the records had no independent recollection of the statement. On appeal from judgment for defendant, held, the record was properly admitted, although no witness could testify of his own memory that he …

The Uniform Simultaneous Death Act, James M. Perry

South Carolina Law Review

No abstract provided.

Evidence-Invalidity Under Due Process Clause Of Convictions Based On Confessions Obtained By Duress

Washington and Lee Law Review

No abstract provided.

Denial Of Due Process By Use Of Coerced Confessions

Indiana Law Journal

Recent Cases: Constitutional Law

Constitutional Law--Due Process-Federal Restrictions On The Use Of Confessions In State Criminal Proceedings, F. L. Adamson

Michigan Law Review

Undisputed evidence established that petitioner, a negro boy of fifteen, was arrested at about midnight, October 19, 1945 and taken to police headquarters. He was questioned by the police with no friend or counsel present. He was not informed of his right to counsel or of his right to refuse to answer. At about five in the morning, October 20, he confessed. He was then informed of his rights and his statement taken and transcribed. He was photographed by a newspaper photographer, and then placed in jail. On October 23 he was, for the first time, taken before a magistrate …

Evidence- Statutes - Contradiction Of Legislative Journal Entry To Show Date Of Receipt Of Bill By Governor, Emerson T. Chandler

Michigan Law Review

Plaintiff, a tax assessor, sought to recover salary claims against a county, contending that compensation was payable under an act passed by the General Assembly but vetoed by the governor. An entry in the House journal reported delivery of the bill to the governor on March 5. The Assembly adjourned March 13, and the governor vetoed the bill March 28. An official receipt dated March 10 had been given for the bill by the governor's office. The Arkansas Constitution gives the governor five days within which to approve or disapprove the bill. If he fails to act, the bill becomes …

Eminent Domain-Effect Of Zoning Ordinances On Measure Of Damages, A. E. Anderson S.Ed.

Michigan Law Review

In a proceeding to condemn land located in an area subject to zoning restrictions, defendant contended that in fixing value the adaptability for all possible uses should be considered whether or not such uses were forbidden by zoning ordinances. The trial court instructed the jury that it should consider only the uses to which the property was suitable and available. On appeal, held, affirmed. Long Beach City High School District v. Stewart, (Cal. 1947) 185 P. (2d) 585.

Physician-Patient Privilege-Waiver In Deed And Will Contests

Indiana Law Journal

No abstract provided.

Inspection Of Opponent's Chattels Before Trial

Indiana Law Journal

Recent Cases: Evidence

Tennessee Judicial Highlights, Journal Staff

Vanderbilt Law Review

CASES OF CURRENT INTEREST AND IMPORTANCE PREVIOUSLY NOTED

Baker v. State, 184 Tenn. 503 (1947), 1 Vand. L. Rev. 127 (1947). Accessory after the fact--when is felony complete?

Black v. Black, 202 S. W. 2d 659 (Tenn. 1947), 20 Tenn. L. Rev. 201 (1948).' Effect of reciting an oral contract to sell land in an undelivered deed.

Churn v. State, 184 Tenn. 646 (1947), 20 Tenn. L. Rev. 195 (1948). Testimony of arresting officers.

Davis v. Beeler, 207 S. W. 2d 343 (Tenn. 1947), 1 Vand. L. Rev. 451 (1948). Prohibition of practice of naturopathy in Tennessee.

Elliott v. Fuqua, …

Evidence-Hearsay-Impeachment Of Hearsay By Declarant's Inconsistent Statements, Ira M. Price, Ii S.Ed.

Michigan Law Review

In an action of trespass to try title to land claimed through adverse possession by defendant, the date when defendant first asserted a hostile claim to the premises so as to start the ten year statute of limitations was in issue. Plaintiff's witness, W, was allowed to testify that defendant had told him and others that plaintiffs owned individual interests in the land and that he did not exclusively claim the land. Defendant's witness, Y, then testified over objection that witness, W, had told him that defendant had long claimed the land, and had farmed and fenced …

Witnesses - "Dead Man's. Act" - Discretion Of Court, George A. Rinker S.Ed.

Michigan Law Review

In an action against an executor to recover money alleged loaned to decedent, plaintiff introduced testimony of a third party regarding a conversation between plaintiff and decedent in which decedent said, "I owe you five hundred and twenty dollars and you will get every cent of it." Plaintiff then testified, over objection, as to the circumstances and terms of the alleged loan. The transaction was oral, and there was no other evidence relating to the circumstances or terms of the loan. From a judgment for plaintiff, defendant appealed, assigning as error the overruling of his objection to plaintiff's competency as …

Evidence-Scope Of The Business Entry Exception To The Hearsay Rule Under Present Statutory Modification, John M. Veale S.Ed.

Michigan Law Review

The business entry exception to the hearsay evidence rule has been prolific of legal literature and litigation. Originally the law regarded all business entries as inadmissible in evidence to prove the truth of the facts recorded. However, at early common law the shopkeeper could not himself testify to the truth of a transaction, since he was an interested party; and if he kept no clerk, or his clerk were unavailable, no one else could so testify. In response to this evidentiary dilemma there appeared a double-barreled exception to the hearsay rule; namely, that business entries by a party (The Shopbook …

Evidence-Proper Agency For Determining The Voluntary Character Of A Confession In A Criminal Trial

Washington and Lee Law Review

No abstract provided.

Evidence-Parol Evidence Rule-Admission Of Parol Evidence To Show Contract Was Sham, Frank E. Roberts S.Ed.

Michigan Law Review

Plaintiffs, executors, brought a bill in equity for an accounting on a contract between defendant and one Broder, deceased, dated April 27, 1944, as modified by a writing dated July 24, 1944. In support of a motion to dismiss, defendant offered parol evidence to show that the writing dated July 24, 1944 was actually executed December 31, 1944 and was not intended to bind the parties, but was designed to effectuate a scheme by which certain advancements to be made to Broder for services rendered in 1945 would be treated as salary paid to Broder during 1944 for purposes of …

Criminal Law--Keeping Place Of Prostitution--Circumstantial Evidence Of Corpus Delicti, G. R. A. Jr.

West Virginia Law Review

No abstract provided.

Evidence--Hearsay--Spontaneous Exclamation, C. W. W. Jr.

West Virginia Law Review

No abstract provided.

Evidence--Reported Testimony Of Deceased Witness--Substantially Similar Offenses, M. S. K.

West Virginia Law Review

No abstract provided.

Witnesses--Power To Compel Expert Testimony, J. W. S. Jr.

West Virginia Law Review

No abstract provided.

Negligence--Res Ipsa Loquitor--Exclusiveness Of Defendant's Control Over Residual Circumstances After All Elements Of Shared Control Eliminated, L. H. B.

West Virginia Law Review

No abstract provided.

Criminal Law-Manslaughter-Effect Of Violation Of Statute Or Ordinance On Criminal Negligence, C. E. Becraft

Michigan Law Review

Defendant was convicted of the crime of negligent homicide and appealed, alleging that the Louisiana statute, making violation of a statute or ordinance presumptive evidence of criminal negligence, was repugnant to the due process clauses of the state and federal constitutions. Held, affirmed. The effect of the statute is merely to shift the burden of introducing evidence of one element of the crime charged: that of criminal negligence. The presumption does not operate as a prima facie presumption of guilt of the crime -and the state must still prove every element of the offense. State v. Nix, (La. …

Admissibility Of Oral Declarations Of A Testator To Prove A Lost Will In Kentucky, Bertel M. Sparks

Kentucky Law Journal

No abstract provided.

Evidence--Admissibility Of Statements By An Alleged Agent Involved In An Accident To Establish Agency, George Muehlenkamp

Kentucky Law Journal

No abstract provided.

Evidence--Admissibility Of Specific Acts Of Negligence, E. Durward Weldon

Kentucky Law Journal

No abstract provided.

Evidence: Character Evidence In A Civil Trial, Giles J. Mccarthy

Kentucky Law Journal

No abstract provided.

Criminal Law-Search And Seizure-Admissibiliy In State Court Of Evidence Illegally Seized By Federal Authorities, Andrew W. Lockton, Ill

Michigan Law Review

Two federal narcotic officers accompanied by two state officers went into the defendant's residence, under the authority of a search warrant which authorized search only for marihuana. The search was fruitless. Observing an automobile in front, the two federal officers said something to the defendant, to which he replied, "why sure-look it over; you won't find anything in there." The federal officers were already searching the automobile when the state officers approaching the automobile saw a bottle of whiskey on the floor-board of the car. So far as can be gathered from the opinion, the state officers did not participate …