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Full-Text Articles in Law
Municipal Corporations - Immunity Of City From Tort Liability - Attractive Nuisance
Municipal Corporations - Immunity Of City From Tort Liability - Attractive Nuisance
Michigan Law Review
The minor plaintiff, a child of eleven, was injured when she fell from a swing in a playground maintained by the defendant, and struck a jagged stone which protruded from the surface of the earth about eight feet beyond the base of the swing. She and her parents joined as plaintiffs in this suit, alleging that the defendant was negligent in failing to keep the ground around the swing in a reasonably safe condition and free from dangerous objects upon which a child might fall. Held, the defendant is liable for its failure to keep the earth around the …
Practice And Procedure-Scope Of Court Rules Allowing Discovery
Practice And Procedure-Scope Of Court Rules Allowing Discovery
Michigan Law Review
The declaration alleged that plaintiff's intestate, a tenant of the defendant, sustained fatal injuries from a fall on the grounds of the apartment house, caused by defendant's negligence with respect to the care of the premises. The action was begun one day before the statute of limitations would have run. Defendant gave notice that under Court Rule 41 she would examine the plaintiff as to the particulars of the event which constituted the cause of action. Plaintiff filed a motion to set aside this order, alleging that defendant's rights under the above rule were limited to discovery as to affirmative …
Innkeepers - Statutory Limitation Of Liability - Necessity Of Strict Compliance As A Condition Precedent To Exemption
Michigan Law Review
The plaintiff was a guest at a hotel owned by the defendant, and during that period a valuable diamond ring was stolen from his room, without negligence on the part of the defendant. In a suit to recover the value of the ring, the defendant set up a defense by way of the statute exempting innkeepers from liability upon "posting a notice in three or more public and conspicuous places in the office, elevators, or public rooms, or in the public parlors of such hotel" to the effect that the innkeeper would not be liable for any stolen property not …
Torts - Wrongful Death - Limitation Of Action - Fraud
Torts - Wrongful Death - Limitation Of Action - Fraud
Michigan Law Review
An administrator brought an action against the defendant power company for damages for the death of the plaintiff's intestate allegedly caused by the negligence of the defendant five years before the commencement of the suit. The statute permitting a cause of action for wrongful death provided that the action be brought "within one year after such death." The plaintiff alleged in his complaint that the delay in bringing the suit was due to a conspiracy by the defendant and others to suppress the knowledge of the death of the plaintiff's intestate. The defendant demurred to the complaint. Held, the …
Negligence - Liability Of Manufacturer To Third Persons - Recovery For Property Damage
Negligence - Liability Of Manufacturer To Third Persons - Recovery For Property Damage
Michigan Law Review
Defendant sold a contractor a trial can of waterproofing materials recommended for the interior of silos. The contractor used this on the interior of a watertank being built in plaintiff's barn. While it was being applied the fumes from the preparation came in contact with a kerosene lamp used to light the interior of the tank, causing an explosion which burned the plaintiff's barn. The ingredients of the waterproofing material were highly inflammable and toxic, but the container bore no warning of these facts. Held, that recovery could be had for the damage to plaintiff's property, the evidence being …
Banks And Banking -- Relation Of Bank To Depositor Of Checks Unqualifiedly Indorsed -- Set-Off Against A Failing Correspondent Bank
Michigan Law Review
Checks drawn on the M bank of another city were deposited by the holders in the D bank pursuant to an agreement that "in receiving and handling items for deposit or collection . . . this bank acts only as depositor's collecting agent and assumes no responsibility beyond the exercise of due care. . . . It may decline to honor or pay checks drawn against conditional credits." The checks were unqualifiedly indorsed. The D bank credited each depositor's account and forwarded the checks to M bank which charged the accounts of the drawers and sent its draft to D …
Torts - Liability Of Parent For Acts Of Infant
Torts - Liability Of Parent For Acts Of Infant
Michigan Law Review
Plaintiff, nursemaid, engaged to look after defendant's young daughter, was bitten by the child. She sued the father for her in jury under Article 2318 of the Louisiana Civil Code. In the district court an exception of no cause of action (the equivalent of a general demurrer) was sustained. The exception was based mainly on the grounds that there was no allegation that the father could have prevented the tort; that there was no allegation that the child had previously exhibited a vicious temper, or that defendant had knowledge of such vicious temper; and that the nursemaid had assumed such …
Carriers -Airplanes - Right To Limit Liability By Contract
Carriers -Airplanes - Right To Limit Liability By Contract
Michigan Law Review
Defendant corporation conducted a regular airplane passenger service between Miami and Tampa, Florida. Deceased purchased an ordinary passenger ticket at the regular price and, in the course of the trip, was killed due to the negligence of defendant's pilot. There was a stipulation in the ticket which all passengers were required to sign that "the company's liability is limited to $10,000." Wife of deceased sued for the negligent death and recovered a judgment in excess of $10,000. Held, that defendant was a common carrier, and, therefore, could not compel a passenger to release it of its legal liability. Curtis-Wright …
Torts - Death Act-Pecuniary Injury - Effect Of Incurable Disease
Torts - Death Act-Pecuniary Injury - Effect Of Incurable Disease
Michigan Law Review
Administratrix sued defendant hospital under the "death act" for having negligently caused the death of her husband. The negligence was admitted. Decedent was afflicted with myelitis, an incurable disease, which affected his spine and rendered him a helpless paralytic. Decedent had no ability to earn or support and would have been an object of constant care and expense. Held, the court should have directed verdict for defendant. Smith v. Presentation Academy of Aberdeen, (S. D. 1933) 248 N. W. 762.
Torts-Release Of Joint Tortfeasor
Torts-Release Of Joint Tortfeasor
Michigan Law Review
Plaintiff, vendee, sued defendant, vendor, upon an alleged fraudulent warranty that the cows, which were the subject matter of the sale, had been immunized against hemorrhagic septicaemia, or "shipping fever." While in transit, through the negligence of the railroad, the cows were injured. Their resistance to the disease was consequently lowered and they became infected, whereby plaintiff was damaged by consequent sterility, unmarketable milk, and abortions. Plaintiff accepted $1,500 from the railroad as "settlement in full for any liability you may be under." This settlement was pleaded as a bar to the action against the vendor. Held, that plaintiff's …
Torts- Master And Servant- Duty Not To Expose Thinly-Clad Servant To The Elements
Torts- Master And Servant- Duty Not To Expose Thinly-Clad Servant To The Elements
Michigan Law Review
The plaintiff, a 15-year-old boy, was employed by the manager of the defendant's store in delivering merchandise and in peddling bills. One cold day the manager asked the plaintiff to accompany him in the truck and deliver orders. Despite the boy's objection that it was "too stormy," the manager told him that he must go, that he would not have time to go home after warmer clothing, that he would be gone but a short time, and that "he would be all right." As a result of this trip, the plaintiff became seriously ill and now sues for damages on …
Torts - Electricity - Duty Of Electric Light Company To Trespasser
Torts - Electricity - Duty Of Electric Light Company To Trespasser
Michigan Law Review
Plaintiff suffered injuries, due to the faulty insulation of defendant's transformer, while using the premises for toilet purposes. There was evidence of a similar past use by various persons other than the plaintiff, access being gained through a hole in defendant's fence. There was no record of any lease between the defendant and the owner of the land. Plaintiff seeks to recover for defendant's negligence. Defendant's demurrer was sustained below. Plaintiff brings exceptions. Held, plaintiff being a trespasser, the declaration fails to allege a breach of any duty owing to him. Roe v. Naragansett Electric Co., (R. I. …
Insurance - Failure To Act Promptly On Application - Tort Liability Of Insurer
Insurance - Failure To Act Promptly On Application - Tort Liability Of Insurer
Michigan Law Review
Although mere delay in passing upon an application for insurance cannot, as a rule, be construed as an acceptance of the offer for a contract of insurance, in recent years some courts have held insurance companies liable in tort where there has been delay in acting upon the policy and the loss sought to be insured against has occurred in the meantime. Plaintiff, to sustain a cause of action in tort, must prove negligence on the part of the insurer, or its agents, and that the policy would have been issued to the applicant but for the negligence. The suit …
Banks And Banking-Payment By Savings Bank To Other Than Depositor
Banks And Banking-Payment By Savings Bank To Other Than Depositor
Michigan Law Review
The plaintiff, depositor in a savings bank, sued the bank to recover for a payment made, upon presentation of the passbook together with a forged receipt, to one known to have previously acted as the depositor's agent. In order to protect itself in such a case the bank had provided the following bylaw: "The passbook shall be the voucher of the depositor, and the possession of the passbook shall be sufficient authority to the bank to warrant any deposit or payment made or entered therein." Held, the bank was liable to the depositor, despite the by-law, as it was …