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Full-Text Articles in Law

Constitutional Law- Sixth Amendment-Impartial Jury-Government Employees On Jury When Government Is Party, G. B. Myers S.Ed. Nov 1950

Constitutional Law- Sixth Amendment-Impartial Jury-Government Employees On Jury When Government Is Party, G. B. Myers S.Ed.

Michigan Law Review

Petitioner, General Secretary of the Communist Party in the United States, was convicted of contempt of Congress after he failed to obey a subpoena of the Committee on Un-American Activities of the House of Representatives. At the trial counsel for the petitioner during voir dire examination inquired as to the employment of each prospective juror, and challenged all Government employees for cause. Counsel argued that because of the "Loyalty Order" and other security investigations taking place in Washington, Government employees would be afraid to risk the possible consequences of an acquittal and were therefore subject to implied bias. The challenge …


Jurisprudence-Stare Decisis - Varying Force Of Precedent, Charles Myneder S.Ed. Jun 1950

Jurisprudence-Stare Decisis - Varying Force Of Precedent, Charles Myneder S.Ed.

Michigan Law Review

Plaintiff passenger brought an action against defendant driver to recover for injuries arising from the latter's negligence in operating an automobile while the parties were engaged in a joint enterprise. Defendant contended that his own negligence should be imputed to the plaintiff to bar recovery. Defendant offered as authority a previous decision by the same court in which a passenger, a joint enterpriser with the driver, sued both the driver and the absentee owner of the automobile. There the court dismissed the action against both defendants on the ground of imputed negligence. But the reasoning and authority offered by the …


Witnesses--Competence Of Defendant's Spouse As Witness For The Prosecution, William R. Worth S.Ed. Jun 1950

Witnesses--Competence Of Defendant's Spouse As Witness For The Prosecution, William R. Worth S.Ed.

Michigan Law Review

Defendant, on trial for the offense of transporting across state lines a sum of money exceeding $5,000 feloniously obtained by fraud, was convicted largely through the testimony of his victim. The fraud charged consisted of a lightning courtship and hasty marriage, closely followed by the disappearance of the new husband along with the entire estate of the too-gullible bride. Over the objection of the defendant, his wife was permitted to testify to the swindle practiced upon her. After conviction, he filed a motion for a new trial, contending that it was error to permit a wife to testify against her …


Legislation-Perpetuities-Some Recent Statutory Changes In The Law Of Perpetuities, Thomas L. Waterbury S.Ed. Jun 1950

Legislation-Perpetuities-Some Recent Statutory Changes In The Law Of Perpetuities, Thomas L. Waterbury S.Ed.

Michigan Law Review

During the past five years the legislatures of several states have wrestled anew with an old problem, that of limiting the permissible duration of indirect restraints upon the alienation of property. Generally speaking, these statutes may be grouped into two classes: those designed to abandon previous statutory modifications of the common law rule against perpetuities and return to the common law rule; and those designed to modify the common law rule or alter existing statutory rules. With respect to the latter group, a further classification is possible between statutes which attempt a general revision of the law as to perpetuities …


Practice And Procedure-Cross Claim For Wrongful Death In An Action Against Decedent's Estate, C. J. Rice May 1950

Practice And Procedure-Cross Claim For Wrongful Death In An Action Against Decedent's Estate, C. J. Rice

Michigan Law Review

Plaintiff's truck, driven by an agent, was involved in a collision with an automobile driven by defendants' intestate. The driver of the automobile was killed and plaintiff brought a damage action against his administrators. The trial court disallowed a cross claim brought by the administrators for the benefit of statutory beneficiaries. This cross claim was prosecuted under the wrongful death act and under a statute which permitted a defendant in a tort action to file a cross claim for damages arising out of the same transaction. Plaintiff objected to the cross claim on the ground that it was prosecuted by …


Joint Tenancy-Creation Of Joint Tenancy In Stock Certificates And The Shares Represented Thereby, Rex Eames May 1950

Joint Tenancy-Creation Of Joint Tenancy In Stock Certificates And The Shares Represented Thereby, Rex Eames

Michigan Law Review

A, registered owner of certain stock certificates, endorsed them and turned them over to an agent with instructions to forward them to the respective corporations for transfer of the shares to A and B as joint tenants. Thereafter, the corporations issued certificates to A and B "as joint tenants with the right of survivorship and not as tenants in common." The plaintiff, A's administrator, brought a bill in equity against B to recover a one-half undivided interest in the shares of stock. Held, bill dismissed. No joint tenancy was created as there was an absence of the …


Bailment-Limitation Of Liability-Effect Of Posted Notice Or Stipulation On Receipt, Walter L. Dean May 1950

Bailment-Limitation Of Liability-Effect Of Posted Notice Or Stipulation On Receipt, Walter L. Dean

Michigan Law Review

Plaintiff deposited a traveling bag in the parcel room at defendant's railroad station, paid a ten cent fee, and was issued in return a numbered check or receipt on which was printed, inter alia, a notice that defendant's liability would be limited to $25 unless an excess valuation were declared and paid for at the time of deposit. Plaintiff testified that he hadn't read the printing on the check and hadn't seen a posted sign which contained the same information. On demand the defendant was unable to redeliver the bag. In an action to recover the value of the bag …


Criminal Law-Indictment And Information-Variance Between Allegation And Proof, Daniel A. Isaacson S.Ed. May 1950

Criminal Law-Indictment And Information-Variance Between Allegation And Proof, Daniel A. Isaacson S.Ed.

Michigan Law Review

In a Texas prosecution for drunken driving, the complaint and information charged that the defendant " . . . on or about the 11th day of April, A.D. 1948 . . . did then and there unlawfully while intoxicated and while under the influence of intoxicating liquor, drive a motor vehicle . . . upon a public highway within said county, to-wit: U.S. Highway #108 about two miles north of the City of Stephenville, Texas .... " Upon conviction, defendant appealed, one ground being that the State had introduced evidence to the effect that he drove his automobile on Highway …


Federal Procedure--Third-Party Practice--Contbibution Among Joint Or Concurrent Tort-Feasors, Paul M.D. Harrison Apr 1950

Federal Procedure--Third-Party Practice--Contbibution Among Joint Or Concurrent Tort-Feasors, Paul M.D. Harrison

Michigan Law Review

A sued B for injuries arising out of a collision between B's taxicab and an automobile driven by C, in which A was riding as a guest passenger. B filed a third-party complaint against C, who denied B's allegation of negligence and counterclaimed against B for personal injuries. A did not amend his complaint to assert a claim against C. The jury found that A's injury was caused by the concurrent negligence of B and C. Judgment for $11,500 was given to A against B, and B was awarded a judgment against …


Contracts-Effect Of Supervening Temporary Impossibility, Robert H. Frick S.Ed. Apr 1950

Contracts-Effect Of Supervening Temporary Impossibility, Robert H. Frick S.Ed.

Michigan Law Review

The plaintiff, a Japanese-owned corporation located in the United States, was operating under a limited license to do business granted under an executive order. On November 1, 1941, the plaintiff contracted to purchase from the defendant corporation 6,000 pockets of rice for delivery during November and December 1941 at the plaintiff's option. On December 7, 1941, the Secretary of the Treasury revoked all licenses issued under the executive order and the plaintiff's place of business was closed. Upon learning of this, the defendant corporation notified the plaintiff of his (defendant's) repudiation of the contract on December 9, 1941. On December …


Conflict Of Laws-Limitation Of Actions-Statute Of Forum Shorter Than Limitation In Foreign Statute Creating Cause Of Action, John J. Gaskell S.Ed. Apr 1950

Conflict Of Laws-Limitation Of Actions-Statute Of Forum Shorter Than Limitation In Foreign Statute Creating Cause Of Action, John J. Gaskell S.Ed.

Michigan Law Review

Action was brought in a United States district court of Pennsylvania to recover for a death by wrongful act which occurred in Minnesota. The action was brought within the time limit of two years allowed by the Minnesota statute, but after the period of one year designated by the Pennsylvania statute for commencement of such action. The district court gave judgment for the defendant. On appeal, held, affirmed. Federal courts in diversity cases are bound by state rules of conflict of laws, and consequently the Pennsylvania rule that no action for wrongful death can be brought in Pennsylvania after …


Conflict Of Laws-Model Execution Of Wills Statute-Law Governing Revocation Of Will, Edward W. Rothe S.Ed. Mar 1950

Conflict Of Laws-Model Execution Of Wills Statute-Law Governing Revocation Of Will, Edward W. Rothe S.Ed.

Michigan Law Review

Decedent's will, devising Iowa realty, was denied probate in Illinois, the state of domicile, on grounds that the will had been revoked by cancellation. The devisees offered the will for probate in Iowa, under whose law no revocation was effected. The heirs contested probate on grounds that the Illinois denial of probate was conclusive and binding on Iowa courts in view of §633.49, Iowa code, 1946: "A last will and testament executed without this state, in the mode prescribed by the law, either of the place where executed or the testator's domicile, shall be deemed to be legally executed, and …


Landlord And Tenant-Interpretation Of Clause In A Lease Providing For Termination In Event Of Destruction Of Premises, Alan C. Boyd Mar 1950

Landlord And Tenant-Interpretation Of Clause In A Lease Providing For Termination In Event Of Destruction Of Premises, Alan C. Boyd

Michigan Law Review

The plaintiff leased property from the defendant for a term of years. The lease provided that the lessor should repair damage from fire and that "the tenancy shall not be terminated unless such repairs shall require more than ninety days." A fire occurred which damaged the property so badly that it could not be repaired within ninety days. The lessor took the position that the tenancy had automatically terminated with the occurrence of the fire. The lessee filed a bill for a declaratory judgment, claiming that under the terms of the lease he had the option either to terminate or …


Trusts-Restraints On Alienation-Invalidity Of Voting Trust Wherein Voting Trust Certificates Were Made Inalienable, W. P. Sutter S.Ed. Mar 1950

Trusts-Restraints On Alienation-Invalidity Of Voting Trust Wherein Voting Trust Certificates Were Made Inalienable, W. P. Sutter S.Ed.

Michigan Law Review

Two stockholders, controlling a majority of the class B stock of the X corporation, transferred their stock to themselves jointly as trustees for a ten-year period. The trustees were to vote the stock as a unit, and had full voting powers on all matters affecting the corporation. Trustees agreed not to transfer the stock without the approval of both holders, and the holders agreed not to sell their stock or the voting trust certificates. Moreover, on the death of one holder-trustee, the other had an option to purchase all his interest in the stock. In an action in equity to …


Corporations-Elections-Judicial Actions Of Inspectors Of Elections, Colvin A. Peterson, Jr. S. Ed. Feb 1950

Corporations-Elections-Judicial Actions Of Inspectors Of Elections, Colvin A. Peterson, Jr. S. Ed.

Michigan Law Review

If the modern cases are to be judged in light of what the courts say, it is probable that Judge Tilghman's views are the weight of authority. While a few courts frankly admit that inspectors do act judicially at times, most of the courts continue to define the actions of the inspectors in ministerial terms. However, there are two areas within which the inspectors may exercise such unusual powers that they may be called judicial, namely, those relating to the ascertainment of (1) the validity of proxies and (2) title to stock. The scope of this comment is confined to …


Corporations-Appraisal Statutes-What Constitutes A Written Objection To Corporate Merger Scheme, Daniel A. Isaacson Feb 1950

Corporations-Appraisal Statutes-What Constitutes A Written Objection To Corporate Merger Scheme, Daniel A. Isaacson

Michigan Law Review

Plaintiff sent a letter to the president of a corporation, in which he held stock, revoking his proxy and stating that he would vote against a proposed merger with defendant corporation. Later, plaintiff demanded payment of the fair value of his shares pursuant to an appraisal statute which so permitted if a stockholder, dissatisfied with a merger plan," . . . objected thereto in writing . . . . " Held, the letter constituted a sufficient written objection for purposes of this statute. Wiswell v. General Waterworks Corporation, (Del. Ch. 1949) 66 A. (2d) 424.


Witnesses-Wife As Witness Against Husband In Prosecution Under Mann Act, James F. Gordy S. Ed. Feb 1950

Witnesses-Wife As Witness Against Husband In Prosecution Under Mann Act, James F. Gordy S. Ed.

Michigan Law Review

Defendant was convicted of having transported his wife in interstate commerce for the purpose of prostitution in violation of the White Slave Traffic Act. Defendant's wife testified to the various transportations which defendant had made of her and to her practicing of prostitution at their different destinations. Defendant contended that the trial court erred in permitting his wife, over his objection, to testify against him. On appeal, held, affirmed. So far as appellant's rights were concerned, the wife's testimony was competent evidence against him. Shores v. United States, (8th Cir. 1949) 174 F. (2d) 838.


Alternative Pleading: Ii, Roy W. Mcdonald Feb 1950

Alternative Pleading: Ii, Roy W. Mcdonald

Michigan Law Review

In any save the most elementary of litigation, the practicing lawyer frequently encounters difficulty in estimating with confidence, in advance of the trial, what precise fact propositions may be established by the evidence. As a result, he desires to preserve for himself the maximum area in which to maneuver as the testimony unfolds. One device for assuring such flexibility is the use of alternative pleading. The present series of articles undertakes to depict the extent to which the pressure of this common professional experience is reflected in our civil practice.


Procedure-Contempt As Sanction To Enforce Delivery In Replevin, John A. Nordberg Jan 1950

Procedure-Contempt As Sanction To Enforce Delivery In Replevin, John A. Nordberg

Michigan Law Review

In a replevin action in a common pleas court the plaintiff, after filing a $200 bond for property later valued at $900, obtained possession of some household goods of the defendant under a fatally defective writ. On motion of the defendant the court dismissed the action and ordered the property returned. On appeal, plaintiff's action was again dismissed and he was directed to return defendant's goods. He ignored the order and was adjudged guilty of contempt. On appeal in the nature of certiorari from this conviction, held, reversed without prejudice. The order was void since the court had lost …


Alternative Pleading: I, Roy W. Mcdonald Jan 1950

Alternative Pleading: I, Roy W. Mcdonald

Michigan Law Review

The present series of articles seeks to test the extent to which the dictates of this common professional experience have influenced the statutes, rules, and precedents which govern our civil practice. As a background for a review of procedures typical of the code and federal practice within the United States, it will be useful initially to consider briefly the English practice during the past century and a half. The English procedures, as they existed at the end of the eighteenth century, though everywhere locally modified and simplified in some respects, formed authoritative guides for the practices of most of the …