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Full-Text Articles in Conflict of Laws

Conflict Of Laws-Foreign Marriage-Dower May 1934

Conflict Of Laws-Foreign Marriage-Dower

Michigan Law Review

Plaintiff was divorced a vinculo matrimonii in the District of Columbia on the grounds of her adultery with defendant who was made co-respondent in the suit. A statute of the district provided that the innocent party only may remarry. Plaintiff married defendant in Florida and later secured a divorce a mensa et thoro from defendant in Virginia. On the death of defendant in the District of Columbia, plaintiff claimed a dower interest in his estate. Held, plaintiff cannot recover. Loughran v. Loughran, (App. D. C. 1933) 66 F. (2d) 567.


Conflict Of Laws - Inter Vivos Trust-Administration In State Other Than State Where Created Mar 1934

Conflict Of Laws - Inter Vivos Trust-Administration In State Other Than State Where Created

Michigan Law Review

Under an antenuptial agreement executed in Quebec, P made D the beneficiary of a $125,000 trust fund. Later, in consideration for renouncing her interest in this trust fund, D was made the beneficiary of a $1,000,000 trust, under an instrument executed in Quebec at the settlor's domicil, but with a New York trustee, the trust to be administered in New York where a substantial portion of the res was located at the time of settlement. Under the local law of Quebec such modification of the antenuptial agreement was invalid; under the local law of New York it was valid. When …


Conflict Of Laws-Jurisdiction In Rem Of Documented Claims Feb 1934

Conflict Of Laws-Jurisdiction In Rem Of Documented Claims

Michigan Law Review

A court has jurisdiction in rem over any res of which it has physical control. But does physical control of a document carry with it the control of the chose in action which it represents? This involves an inquiry as to what extent the chose in action is embodied in the document, to what extent the certificate is itself the res or property. Answers to this question have varied with the type of document and even with the type of suit in which the problem has arisen.


Limitation Of Actions And The Conflict Of Laws, Edgar H. Ailes Feb 1933

Limitation Of Actions And The Conflict Of Laws, Edgar H. Ailes

Michigan Law Review

All civilized States, in the interest of an efficient administration of justice, have felt compelled to fix time limits beyond which access to their courts would be denied to aggrieved parties. Interest reipublicae ut sit finis litium. This was true even of Roman law in which actions were normally perpetual. Since the limitations enacted by various legislatures differ widely, and since debts are transitory, permitting suit wherever the creditor can find the debtor (at least in countries where the Common Law prevails), it is of the first practical importance that definite rules of Conflict of Laws be evolved to …


Matrimonial Domicil And Marital Rights In Movables, Arthur Leon Harding Apr 1932

Matrimonial Domicil And Marital Rights In Movables, Arthur Leon Harding

Michigan Law Review

The American decisions in Conflicts of Laws relating to the rights acquired by one spouse in the property of the other by virtue of the fact of marriage stand as a monument to Joseph Story . Almost without exception the cases discussed hereafter have been decided on the basis of his thorough analysis of the law of the Pandects and the eighteenth century civilians. Even where his principles have not been approved, the courts have departed from them only after real and serious consideration. This fact, kept in mind, greatly simplifies the study of the cases themselves.


Conflict Of Laws-Judicial Notice Of Foreign Law Mar 1932

Conflict Of Laws-Judicial Notice Of Foreign Law

Michigan Law Review

Substantively, "the subject of judicial notice . . . belongs where the general topic of legal or judicial reasoning belongs, - to that part of the law which defines among other things, the nature and limitations of the judicial function - it is, indeed, woven into the very texture of this function." Functionally, the subject of judicial notice is that portion of procedural law relating to "Proof'' wherein the ordinary rules of evidence are inapplicable. That is to say, certain propositions, "facta probanda," of a party's case will be taken for true by the tribunal without proof. These are generally …


Conflict Of Laws-Admiralty -Torts In Territorial Waters Feb 1932

Conflict Of Laws-Admiralty -Torts In Territorial Waters

Michigan Law Review

A civil wrong having been committed on board a vessel in foreign territorial waters, the tort by hypothesis being maritime and the court having jurisdiction, the problem then arises as to what law governs the disposition of the case. Stated more specifically, does the nature of admiralty jurisdiction demand that a court, in determining liability for civil wrongs committed in foreign territorial waters, should ignore or modify well-settled principles of the conflict of laws as applied to delictual obligations? This is the point of departure for the discussion to follow.


Conflict Of Laws - Remarriage After Divorce Jan 1932

Conflict Of Laws - Remarriage After Divorce

Michigan Law Review

H obtained a divorce in Alabama under a statute prohibiting remarriage without. permission of the court. He remarried in Tennessee, where the statute prohibited remarriage during the life of the other spouse. Held, the Tennessee law applied to divorces obtained in that state only. In the absence of express words. to that effect, the Alabama statute had no extra-territorial effect; and the marriage, valid where performed, was valid everywhere. Smith v. Goldsmith, (Ala. 1931) 134 So. 651. H secured a divorce in Vermont under a statute declaring void any remarriage within three years, either within or without the …


Conflict Of Laws - Contracts - Public Policy Jan 1932

Conflict Of Laws - Contracts - Public Policy

Michigan Law Review

The decedent, in Florida, became the grantee of Florida land by a deed which recited that it was made subject to a mortgage held by one Key, in the sum of $9,000, securing a note for that amount. The deed stipulated that "the grantee herein assumes and agrees to pay the above mortgage and notes." By Florida law the grantee was effectually bound by such a clause. Upon the death of the grantee, Key entered a claim against the estate in Pennsylvania. The lower court disallowed the claim on the basis of a Pennsylvania statute which held a grantee of …


Conflict Of Laws - Mistake Of Foreign Law As Mistake Of Fact Dec 1931

Conflict Of Laws - Mistake Of Foreign Law As Mistake Of Fact

Michigan Law Review

Plaintiff sued in Ohio to set aside a deed of Ohio land given by the plaintiff, a resident of that state, in exchange for Texas lands deeded by the defendant who was also a resident of Ohio, for mistake as to defendant's title to the Texas land resulting from a Texas statute of which both parties were ignorant at the time of the transaction. Held, a mistake of foreign law is a mistake of fact authorizing equitable relief. Miller v. Bieghler, 123 Ohio St. 227, 174 N.E. 774 (1931).


Conflict Of Laws - Jurisdiction On Service By Publication In A Suit For Maintenance Dec 1931

Conflict Of Laws - Jurisdiction On Service By Publication In A Suit For Maintenance

Michigan Law Review

A wife whose matrimonial domicil was in Washington, D. C., moved to Reno, Nevada, and there obtained a decree of divorce. Nine years later she filed a bill in the supreme court of the District of Columbia asking that the Nevada decree of divorce be declared void on the ground that she was induced to secure it by fraud and coercion; that a decree be entered requiring defendant to provide "maintenance and support"; and that his property within the jurisdiction of the court be sequestered to insure payment of the same. Sections 70 and 75 of title 14, Code D. …


Conflict Of Laws-Damages-Obligation Payable In Russian Rubles Jun 1931

Conflict Of Laws-Damages-Obligation Payable In Russian Rubles

Michigan Law Review

In an action in New York to establish a claim against a Russian insurance company on a policy payable in rubles in Russia, the following history of Russian money appeared. Before the revolution, the gold ruble of the Empire had been supplanted by a paper currency of depreciated value. The Soviets, at the beginning of their regime, instituted a paper currency which had also greatly decreased in value. At the time the policy became due, this latter currency was still circulating, and in addition, a gold coinage with notes redeemable in gold had been established. From time to time the …


Conflict Of Laws-Recognition Of Foreign Alimony Decree Jun 1931

Conflict Of Laws-Recognition Of Foreign Alimony Decree

Michigan Law Review

In 1928, a New York court ordered D, who was suing for annulment of his marriage, to pay alimony pendente lite and attorney's fees to W. This judgment had remained unsatisfied. W, in 1931, brought a bill in equity in Massachusetts asking that D, now a resident of Massachusetts, be ordered to pay the amount due on the judgment. Held, although the local statute (Gen. L., c. 209, sec. 6) did not permit suits at law between husband and wife, that mere circumstance was not sufficient grounds for granting equitable relief on the ground of the inadequacy of the …


Conflict Of Laws-Right Of Action For Foreign Tort Jun 1931

Conflict Of Laws-Right Of Action For Foreign Tort

Michigan Law Review

Plaintiff, an automobile guest, brought action against the driver in Wisconsin for personal injuries sustained in Illinois through the driver's negligence. After commencement of the action, but before trial, the parties intermarried and established a matrimonial domicil in Wisconsin. Held, that the law governing the creation and extent of tort liability is that of the place where the tort is committed; that by the law of Illinois the cause of action was extinguished because of the legal unity of husband and wife; and therefore that the suit must abate, despite the fact that suits between spouses are ordinarily permitted …


Conflict Of Laws-Bills And Notes-Law Governing Vailidity Of Transfer Of Check By Indorsement May 1931

Conflict Of Laws-Bills And Notes-Law Governing Vailidity Of Transfer Of Check By Indorsement

Michigan Law Review

The president of a New York corporation indorsed in blank in the corporate name a check payable to the corporation. He then indorsed the check personally and mailed it to the Banque De Bruxelles, a foreign corporation located in Belgium. The bank in Belgium received it for collection and forwarded it for collection to its correspondent in Washington, D. C. The proceeds were received by the bank in Belgium and credited to the personal account of the president of the New York corporation as directed by him. Later, he withdrew the amount from the bank for his own use. Assignees …


Conflict Of Laws-Corporations-Effect Of Soviet Dissolution On Status Of Russian Corporations Abroad May 1931

Conflict Of Laws-Corporations-Effect Of Soviet Dissolution On Status Of Russian Corporations Abroad

Michigan Law Review

A Russian insurance company, driven from its domicil by the revolution and subsequent nationalization decrees of the Soviet government, was attempting to gather assets located without Russia through the surviving directors, who constituted less than a quorum of the last board. For the purpose of suit in New York the directors authorized an assignment to the plaintiff, an American corporation, of a claim against the defendant, a British corporation, arising out of a contract made in England. In the subsequent suit it was held that the directors' authority was limited to that of conservators, and did not include the power …


Conflict Of Laws-Foreign Tort-Survival Of Action May 1931

Conflict Of Laws-Foreign Tort-Survival Of Action

Michigan Law Review

Plaintiff, defendant, and defendant's intestate were all residents of Minnesota. Plaintiff was injured in Wisconsin due to the negligence of the defendant's intestate. Under Wisconsin statute (Laws of Wis., 1927, sec. 287.01) such cause of action survived against the estate of the wrongdoer. By express statute in Minnesota (Minn. Gen. Stat. 1923, sec. 9656) the rule of the common law applied to such actions and they abated on the death of the wrongdoer. Plaintiff sued the defendant executor in Minnesota. Held, that the lex loci delicti governed and the action did not abate. Chubbuck v. Holloway (Minn. 1931) 234 …


Conflict Of Laws-Contracts-Married Woman's Capacity Apr 1931

Conflict Of Laws-Contracts-Married Woman's Capacity

Michigan Law Review

Defendant, a married woman, domiciled in Idaho, entered into a guaranty contract in California with the plaintiff. In a bankruptcy proceeding brought against her in the district court for Idaho, she denied the validity of the obligation because it was not within the exceptions in Idaho law to the common law disability of a married woman to contract. Under California law the contract was valid. The agreement stipulated that it should be construed according to California law. Held, the capacity of the defendant to enter into the contract is governed by the law of California, the place where it …


Collateral Attack Upon Foreign Judgments The Doctrine Of Pemberton V. Hughes, Fowler Vincent Harper Apr 1931

Collateral Attack Upon Foreign Judgments The Doctrine Of Pemberton V. Hughes, Fowler Vincent Harper

Michigan Law Review

In Pemberton v. Hughes the action was brought in England, by one Sarah E. Pemberton claiming to be the widow of Francis Alexander Pemberton, for certain property rights incident to widowhood. Whether plaintiff was the widow of Pemberton depended upon the validity of their alleged marriage, which in tum depended upon the validity of a Florida divorce of the lady from a former husband. In the divorce action in question, service of summons had been made upon the present plaintiff one day less than the statutory period before appearance. Under the law of Florida, such a defective service rendered the …


Recognition Cases In American Courts, 1923-1930, John S. Tennant Apr 1931

Recognition Cases In American Courts, 1923-1930, John S. Tennant

Michigan Law Review

Although the Soviets have maintained complete, uninterrupted, and practically undisputed control over most of the territory of the former Russian Empire for more than ten years, the United States still refuses to recognize the Soviet government as the international representative of Russia. The first general consideration of the legal situation engendered by the policy of our government was contained in an article by Professor Edwin D. Dickinson, "The Unrecognized Government or State in English and American Law,'' which appeared in the Michigan Law Review in 1923. In view of the importance of this matter, and the number of cases involving …


Conflict Of Laws--Contracts--Excuses For Non-Performance Apr 1931

Conflict Of Laws--Contracts--Excuses For Non-Performance

Michigan Law Review

Libellant sought to recover on a contract made in Duluth for the shipment of grain by defendant from Duluth to Montreal. The grain was reshipped by defendant at Port Colbourne, Ontario, and was sunk in the St. Lawrence River. Canadian Water Carrier of Goods Act, sec. 6 (9-10 Edw. VII, c. 81), provides that if the owner of any ship carrying merchandise from any port in Canada exercises due diligence to make the ship in all respects seaworthy and properly manned, neither the ship, owner, agent, nor charterer shall be liable for faults in navigation. The court held defendant was …


Conflict Of Laws-Effects Usury Apr 1931

Conflict Of Laws-Effects Usury

Michigan Law Review

A Pennsylvania corporation entered into a contract in Maryland with the defendant credit company, a Delaware corporation, under which the defendant was to advance money upon the assignment to it of accounts, and furnish other services for which it was to receive certain definite fees and commissions. The parties stipulated in the contract that it should be governed as to its validity and interpretation by the laws of Delaware. The receivers of the Pennsylvania corporation brought this action to recover payments made to the defendant under the contract, claiming it to be usurious according to the law of Pennsylvania. Held …


Conflict Of Laws - Statute Of Limitations - Applicability Apr 1931

Conflict Of Laws - Statute Of Limitations - Applicability

Michigan Law Review

Goods, shipped from France on a vessel of the French line, were damaged by seawater. The bills of lading were issued in France, containing a clause that litigation or disputes arising from their interpretation or execution should be judged according to French law. When the holders of the bills libeled the French line, they were met with the defense that the French Code allowed suit on such claims only if within one year after the ship arrived, which period had passed. Section 433 of the French Commercial Code, to the effect that such claims were barred by a one-year prescription …


Conflict Of Laws-Renvoi Doctrine Mar 1931

Conflict Of Laws-Renvoi Doctrine

Michigan Law Review

H, an Englishman, married W in England. On separation H acquired a domicil in Germany. A child was thereafter born to Y, a woman with whom H was living in Germany. H subsequently divorced W in Germany and married Y. Whether the child was legitimate determined whether H had validly exercised a power of appointment in an English settlement. Held, legitimacy is to be determined by the law of the domicil, including its rules of private international law. Germany, referring the matter to English law, found a remittance which Germany accepted and applied German municipal law. The child, by …


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 …


What Rights Are Left, Everett S. Brown Jan 1931

What Rights Are Left, Everett S. Brown

Michigan Law Review

A review of WHAT RIGHTS ARE LEFT By Henry Alan Johnston.


Conflict Of Laws-Jurisdiction Nov 1930

Conflict Of Laws-Jurisdiction

Michigan Law Review

Appellant, a resident of Iowa, was ordered by the military department of the United States to take his troops to Fort Snelling, Minnesota, for a training period, during which time he was served with summons to appear in the district court of Ramsey county. Appellant filed a motion to quash, on the grounds that the Minnesota court had no jurisdiction since he was on a military reservation belonging to the United States and claimed privilege from service because he was involuntarily there in obedience to orders. The motion was overruled and judgment was entered against him. Held, if the …


Conflict Of Laws-Which Law Governs The Essential Validity Of A Warrant Of Attorney To Confess Judgment Contained In Another Instrument Nov 1930

Conflict Of Laws-Which Law Governs The Essential Validity Of A Warrant Of Attorney To Confess Judgment Contained In Another Instrument

Michigan Law Review

Defendant executed a promissory note in Michigan which contained a warrant of attorney authorizing the confessing of judgment by an attorney of any court of record. By statute in Michigan, such a power must be in a separate instrument before a pro confesso judgment can be entered. Plaintiff, an indorsee of the note, got a judgment rendered on the note in Illinois by virtue of such authorization. He then brought suit in Michigan upon this Illinois judgment. Held, the validity of the power is governed by the law of the place of contracting and so a judgment rendered under …


Recent Important Decisions May 1929

Recent Important Decisions

Michigan Law Review

A collection of recent important court decisions.


Conflict Of Laws: Recent Development Concerning Marriage, Francis Deak Feb 1929

Conflict Of Laws: Recent Development Concerning Marriage, Francis Deak

Michigan Law Review

Anglo-American writers on the conflict of laws and Continental writers on private international law emphasize, with equal strength, the importance of the rules regulating marriage. Marriage is the most important of the social institutions; it is, in fact, the very foundation of the present social order. The legal system of civilized states, which is called upon to maintain this social order, contains an elaborate body of rules, protecting the institution of marriage. It is noteworthy, indeed, that mature legal systems secure best interests involved in domestic relations, besides interests of substance such as property and contract. Each legal system developed …