Civil Procedure Commons^™

Federal Procedure-Venue-Transfer Under Section 1404(A) To District Where Venue Originally Would Have Been Improper, Wilber M. Brucker, Jr. S. Ed.

Michigan Law Review

Civil anti-trust actions were properly brought against defendants in the Federal District Court for the District of Delaware. Defendants sought a transfer of the suits to a district court in Texas under section 1404(a) of the Judicial Code, which allows a transfer when requirements of convenience are met to any district where the suit "might have been brought" Although venue in the Texas District Court would not have been proper when the suits were originally instituted, defendants claimed that their express waiver of improper venue removed the bar to transfer. The district court ruled that it lacked the power to …

Probate Proceedings-Administration Of Decedents' Estates- The Mullane Case And Due Process Of Law, Nolan W. Carson S.Ed.

Michigan Law Review

In a recent decision by the United States Supreme Court, a new chapter has been added to the law on the requisites of notice under the due process clause of the Constitution. This case held that publication of notice prior to a judicial settlement of accounts by the corporate trustee of a common trust fund does not afford due process of law to those beneficiaries with present interests whose addresses are known to the trustee. The court refused to classify the action as in rem or in personam but held that whatever its technical definition, the published notice was not …

Civil Procedure-Judgments-Revival Of Judgments On Notice Served Outside The State, Nancy J. Ringland S.Ed.

Michigan Law Review

Relator filed a petition for mandamus to compel the respondent, one of the circuit judges of the City of St. Louis, to assume jurisdiction and take steps to revive a judgment for alimony in favor of relator against her former husband, who was a resident of New Jersey, where notice of the proceedings was personally delivered to him, and who had no property within the state of Missouri. The Missouri statute provided that a revival must be "upon personal service duly had upon the defendant or defendants therein." Held, mandamus denied, on the ground that a personal judgment could …

Federal Procedure-Proper Venue In Patent Infringement Action Against Corporation, Gordon W. Hueschen S.Ed.

Michigan Law Review

Plaintiffs brought an action for patent infringement against defendant corporation in the Federal District Court for the Southern Division of California, alleging only defendant's "residence" within the district. Defendant moved to dismiss the complaint on the ground that defendant, being a Delaware corporation, did not "reside" within the district, thus rendering the venue defective. Plaintiffs replied that the word "resides," as used in the patent infringement venue section of the code, which states that "any civil action for patent infringement may be brought in the judicial district where the defendant resides, or where the defendant has committed acts of infringement …

Civil Procedure-Verdicts-New Trial For Defendant Because Of Inadequacy Of Verdict Against Him, Cleaveland J. Rice S. Ed.

Michigan Law Review

Plaintiff sued on a contract for a pro rata share of an agreed $750 annual bonus in addition to salary. The evidence was undisputed that plaintiff had worked for at least the first six months of the year, and possibly seven. The jury was instructed that if it should find that there was such a contract, it should return a verdict for a fractional part of $750, the amount depending upon the portion of the year worked. The result was a verdict in favor of plaintiff for only $312.50. The trial court denied defendant's motion for new trial on grounds …

Federal Procedure-Removal Jurisdiction-Meaning Of "Separate And Independent'' As Used In The United States Judicial Code, Paul Harrison S. Ed.

Michigan Law Review

The respondent suffered a loss by fire, and being uncertain as to which party was liable to compensate for this loss, joined the petitioner and two others as defendants in a suit asking for alternative relief. The petitioner and one of the defendants were insurance corporations with residence outside the state, while the third defendant's residence was the same as that of the respondent. The corporate defendants secured removal of the case to the federal court, and on a trial of the issues, a judgment was rendered for the respondent against the petitioner in the amount of the insurance claimed …

Civil Procedure-Venue-Forum Non Conveniens-Application Of Doctrine By State Court In Case Arising Under Federal Employers' Liability Act, Nancy J. Ringland S.Ed.

Michigan Law Review

Two suits based on the Federal Employers' Liability Act were brought in the Circuit Court of the City of St. Louis, Missouri. In both cases, plaintiff was not a Missouri resident, the defendant carrier was a foreign corporation, and the cause of action arose outside the state of Missouri. A motion to dismiss on the ground of forum non conveniens was denied as beyond the jurisdiction of the court, and mandamus proceedings were begun in the Supreme Court of Missouri to compel the trial court to exercise its discretion in disposing of the motions. The writs were quashed by the …

Federal Procedure-Joinder Of Legal And Equitable Claims-Trial By Jury, William O. Allen

Michigan Law Review

Plaintiff brought an action against his employer in a federal district court under the Federal Employers' Liability Act for damages for personal injuries suffered during the course of his employment. In the same action, plaintiff sought to have a release, which he had executed, set aside on the ground that it had been obtained by defendant's fraud. Plaintiff requested a jury trial of both claims; defendant objected to a jury trial of the issue of setting aside the release, on the ground that a claim for cancellation of a release is for equitable relief triable to the court alone. Held …

Limitations And The Federal Courts, William Wirt Blume, B. J. George Jr.

Michigan Law Review

Though as a practical matter it is difficult to secure passage of uniform legislation in all states, particularly when the subject matter has so long been considered as of local interest only, the need for such legislation in the case of the statute of limitations seems clear. To the extent that such a statute is adopted, the problem of varying limitation periods upon particular causes of action and similar causes of action will be removed. Only by a uniform state treatment of the problem will the conflict among federal districts resulting from the uniformity of result requirement of Erie Railroad …

Federal Procedure-Jurisdiction-Diversity Of Citizenship Required In Stockholder's Derivative Suit, Morris G. Shanker

Michigan Law Review

Plaintiff, a citizen of New York, instituted a stockholder's suit on behalf of a New York corporation in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York. Individual officers and directors of the corporation, all citizens of Connecticut, were charged with mismanagement and were joined with it as party defendants. Since plaintiff and defendant corporation were both citizens of New York, requisite diversity did not exist, and the district court dismissed the claim for lack of jurisdiction. Upon appeal, held, judgment affirmed. The section of the Federal Judicial Code providing that "any civil action by a …

Federal Procedure-Venue-Waiver Of Title 28, United States Code, Section 1391(A), Under Nonresident Motorist Statutes, Nolan W. Carson S.Ed.

Michigan Law Review

A Connecticut resident brought a suit based on diversity of citizenship in a United States district court in Massachusetts against an Ohio corporation, alleging a cause of action arising from an automobile collision upon a Massachusetts highway. Plaintiff secured personal jurisdiction over the defendant by serving process upon the Registrar of Motor Vehicles for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and by giving notice to defendant in accordance with the Massachusetts nonresident motorist statute. Upon defendant's motion, the action was dismissed for improper venue. Held, defendant is not a Massachusetts resident for purposes of federal venue as defined by Title 28, …

Process--Immunity From Service--Person Entering A State To File An Action, Patrick J. Ledwidge

Michigan Law Review

Petitioner, a resident of Missouri, entered California to gain custody of his child from its maternal grandmother. After eight days of fruitless negotiation he commenced habeas corpus proceedings. While attempting to serve the writ of habeas corpus, petitioner was served with a summons in an action brought by the grandmother for support of the child. When the trial court denied petitioner's motion to quash the service of summons on him, he sought a writ of prohibition from the district court of appeals to prevent further prosecution of the second action. Held, petition denied; petitioner's eight day delay justified inference …

Torts-False Imprisonment-Detention Of Insane Person, John A. Hellstrom S.Ed.

Michigan Law Review

Plaintiff sued defendant doctor for false imprisonment arising out of her detention as an insane person. Defendant had examined plaintiff at the request of the plaintiff's husband, called the police, and advised that she be detained as dangerous. Plaintiff was released ten days later but there was evidence to the effect that she was of unsound mind when originally detained. The arrest and detention of insane persons without a warrant is authorized by a District of Columbia statute on the affidavits of two responsible persons supported by certificates from two doctors or when such a person is found in a …

Karlen: Primer Of Procedure, Charles W. Joiner

Michigan Law Review

A Review of PRIMER OF PROCEDURE. By Delmar Karlen.

Process--Immunity From Service--Person Entering A State To File An Action, Patrick J. Ledwidge

Michigan Law Review

Petitioner, a resident of Missouri, entered California to gain custody of his child from its maternal grandmother. After eight days of fruitless negotiation he commenced habeas corpus proceedings. While attempting to serve the writ of habeas corpus, petitioner was served with a summons in an action brought by the grandmother for support of the child. When the trial court denied petitioner's motion to quash the service of summons on him, he sought a writ of prohibition from the district court of appeals to prevent further prosecution of the second action. Held, petition denied; petitioner's eight day delay justified inference …

Torts-False Imprisonment-Detention Of Insane Person, John A. Hellstrom S.Ed.

Michigan Law Review

Plaintiff sued defendant doctor for false imprisonment arising out of her detention as an insane person. Defendant had examined plaintiff at the request of the plaintiff's husband, called the police, and advised that she be detained as dangerous. Plaintiff was released ten days later but there was evidence to the effect that she was of unsound mind when originally detained. The arrest and detention of insane persons without a warrant is authorized by a District of Columbia statute on the affidavits of two responsible persons supported by certificates from two doctors or when such a person is found in a …

Karlen: Primer Of Procedure, Charles W. Joiner

Michigan Law Review

A Review of PRIMER OF PROCEDURE. By Delmar Karlen.

Practice And Procedure-Trial Practice-Juror Affidavits, Paul M.D. Harrison S. Ed.

Michigan Law Review

The jury, in an action for trespass, returned a verdict in favor of the plaintiff and thereafter separated after being dismissed by the court. Subsequently, a juror reported to the court that the verdict as returned did not express the actual agreement of the jury. Five days after dismissal the jury was recalled and, upon being polled, unanimously agreed that the verdict as returned did not represent the actual agreement of the jury due to an error in computation. The jury was sent back to the jury room under instructions to refigure the verdict only upon evidence already presented in …

Venue Statutes: Diagnosis And Proposed Cure, George Neff Stevens

Michigan Law Review

Modern procedural reform movements have swept by the problems of venue with but little notice. This is unfortunate, for all too many cases are decided on a venue technicality, with complete disregard for the merits. Present day venue procedures are the result of historical developments and piecemeal legislative tinkering. The time has come for an appraisal and for corrective action.

Part I of this paper contains a comparative and critical study of venue statutes in the United States today. Part II points out how and why certain of these provisions have given rise to serious problems and suggests a few …

Constitutional Law-Search And Seizure -Inspection Of Private Dwelling By Health Officer Without A Warrant, Robert P. Griffin S. Ed.

Michigan Law Review

A health officer sought to enter and inspect respondent's private home without a search warrant after a neighbor complained that the premises were not "clean and wholesome" as required by a District of Columbia ordinance. Respondent denied the officer permission to enter and refused to unlock the door, maintaining that his entry would violate her constitutional rights. As a result, respondent was convicted in municipal court of violating an ordinance making it a misdemeanor to interfere with or prevent an authorized sanitation inspection. On appeal, reversal of the conviction by the Municipal Court of Appeals was affirmed by the Court …

Review Of Pre-Trial, By H. D. Nimis, John W. Reed

Reviews

Mr. Nims has undertaken to catalog the pre-trial procedures currently in use in state and federal courts and administrative agencies. Apparently, he asked judges in nearly every jurisdiction for statements of their views and practices, and there is here set forth a summary of, and many excerpts from, their replies. The book contains also an eighty-five page analysis of the reported decisions involving pre-trial questions, an extensive appendix, which includes minutes of pre-trial hearings and specimens of orders, and an exhaustive bibliography.

Federal Courts-Substitution Of Parties By Amendment Under The Federal Rules To Correct A Jurisdictional Defect, Rex Eames S.Ed.

Michigan Law Review

The plaintiffs, local officers of a union, sued to enjoin the national officers of the union from interfering with plaintiffs' union duties. Because the original complaint failed to show diversity of citizenship as a basis for federal jurisdiction, plaintiffs sought by amendment to substitute five nonresident members of the union as parties plaintiff and to change the action to a class suit. Held, the court had the power to permit such an amendment but, in the exercise of its discretion, it would not do so here. National Maritime Union of America v. Curran, (D.C. N.Y. 1949) 87 F. …

Federal Courts-Use Of A Cross-Claim Under Rule 13(G) Of The Federal Rules Of Civil Procedure, Rex Eames S.Ed.

Michigan Law Review

Under an ordinary automobile insurance policy, P insurance company promised to defend and indemnify Harvey for any suit arising from an accident involving his use of the insured truck. Collier sued Harvey in a state court alleging injuries due to the negligent use of the insured truck by two Harvey employees. Before judgment thereon, P, incorporated under the laws of Wisconsin, sued Harvey and Collier, citizens of Oklahoma, in the federal court. P sought a declaratory judgment on the grounds that (a) at the time of the accident the employees were under the control and supervision of the City …

Judgments - Double Jeopardy - Res Judicata - Effect Of Prior Conviction Or Acquittal On Subsequent Suit For Statutory Penalty Or Forfeiture, Edward W. Rothe S.Ed.

Michigan Law Review

The case of United States v. One De Soto Sedan has again focused attention on some of the perplexing problems raised by the statutory imposition of both criminal and civil sanctions for the same wrongful act. The court held that an acquittal in a criminal prosecution for possessing liquor on which no federal tax had been paid was a bar to a civil in rem proceeding to forfeit claimant's car as having been used in the removal, deposit and concealment of the same liquor with intent to defraud the United States of taxes. Since the two proceedings involved the same …

Judgments-Collateral Estoppel By A Lower Court Judgment When Appeal Therefrom Is Dismissed Because The Case Has Become Moot, John C. Walker S.Ed.

Michigan Law Review

The United States sued defendant in two counts for violation of OPA price regulations. The first count asked for an injunction to restrain further violations while the second sought treble damages for past violations. By agreement of the parties the injunction issue was tried first. The trial court found that there had been no violation of price regulations and dismissed the bill. This phase of the case was appealed by the government as a final order. The appeal was dismissed on the ground that the injunction issue had become moot, the particular commodity having been decontrolled in the interim. The …

Judgments-Setting Aside-Failure Of "Local Agent" To Notify Corporation Of Service Of Summons, Lloyd J. Tyler, Jr.

Michigan Law Review

Service of summons was made upon a ticket agent employed by a lessee of the defendant coach line in accordance with a North Carolina statute which provides that any person receiving or collecting money within the state for a corporation is a ''local agent" for the purpose of service of process. This agent did not notify the defendant corporation of the summons, and a default judgment was entered. On appeal it was held that the judgment should not be set aside for want of service of summons, since the ticket agent was within the statutory definition of ''local agent." The …

Federal Courts-Civil Procedure-Availability To Plaintiff Of Change Of Venue Under Title 28 U.S.C.A. 1404(A), Richard B. Gushée S.Ed.

Michigan Law Review

The plaintiffs filed a complaint in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio in order to obtain service on the defendant. The plaintiff then filed a motion for an order to transfer the cause to the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania under Title 28 U.S.C.A. 1404(a) on the grounds that all the plaintiffs and witnesses resided in Pennsylvania, that it would be inconvenient and expensive to transport these witnesses to Ohio, and that the cause of action arose in Pennsylvania. Held, motion denied. Title 28 U.S.C.A. 1404(a) is not available …

The Intent Element In Contempt Of Injunctions, Decrees And Court Orders, Edward W. Rothe S.Ed.

Michigan Law Review

Recent years have seen increasing effort on the part of courts to distinguish between civil and criminal contempts. This effort has been engendered by an awareness of the different procedural and substantive aspects of the two classifications. A discussion of these aspects, as well as of the tests used to distinguish civil and criminal contempts, is beyond the scope of this paper. Suffice it to say that those tests which have been applied leave much to be desired. The lack of clarity, so evident in prevailing tests, is in part a legacy from early decisions which permitted the two types …

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 …

Equity-Financial Liability To Comply With A Decree-Imprisonment For Debt, Paul M.D. Harrison

Michigan Law Review

Testator provided that a charge amounting to $16,000 was to be made on certain devised land and that a $5,000 legacy was to be paid to plaintiff educational institution from this sum. Defendant executors reported to the court, in 1921, that the charge had been collected and that the $5,000 legacy for plaintiff had been received. The court ordered them to hold the money in trust until plaintiff might qualify to take it. Actually, as shown by the executor's final report of 1941, no part of the $5,000 had been collected and all the money in the estate had been …