Contracts Commons^™

Government Contracts-Adoption Of Uniform Commercial Code As The Applicable Federal Law In An Action For Breach Of Government Contract-United States V. Wegematic Corp., Michigan Law Review

Michigan Law Review

Appellant contracted to supply the Federal Reserve Board with a "truly revolutionary" electronic digital computing system. After twice requesting postponement of the delivery date, appellant informed the Board that delivery under the terms of the contract would be impracticable because of unforeseen engineering difficulties that would require at least one year and one million dollars to overcome. Appellant asked for cancellation of the contract, but the Board refused and brought a suit for damages. Both parties conceded that federal law governed the action; appellant, however, argued that section 2-615 of the Uniform Commercial Code (Code) should be adopted as the …

Conflict Of Laws-Law Applicable In Federal Courts-Federal Law Applied To Contractual Relations Of Admiralty Lawyer, Robert E. Thorne S.Ed.

Michigan Law Review

Plaintiff attorney was retained by a Spanish seaman to prosecute personal injury claims under the Jones Act and the general maritime law. Defendant shipping company induced the seaman to fire his lawyer and to recover instead under his Spanish employment contract. Plaintiff sued the shipping company in tort for interference with contractual relations. In a federal diversity suit, held, for plaintiff. Federal common law should be applied to determine the validity of the contract and the claim of tortious interference with it. Greenberg v. Panama Transp. Co., 185 F. Supp. 320 (D. Mass. 1960).

Conflict Of Laws - Release In A Tort Action - Effect Of Lex Loci Delicti And Contractus, Stanley A. Williams

Michigan Law Review

Plaintiff, defendant, and a third party were involved in a three-car collision in Virginia. Plaintiff settled an action against the third party's estate by executing a release, entered into in New York, in which plaintiff reserved any claims which he might have against the defendant. He then sued defendant, a resident of Pennsylvania, in a federal district court in Pennsylvania. The lower court, applying Virginia law to determine the effect of a release of one joint tortfeasor, dismissed plaintiff's action. On appeal, held, affirmed. The law of the place of the tort governs the effect of a release, not …

Conflict Of Laws--Effect Of Forum's Statute Of Frauds On Foreign Oral Contract To Bequeath Property, David D. Dowd, Jr. S.Ed.

Michigan Law Review

Plaintiff brought an action in New York for specific performance of an oral agreement allegedly made by testator in Florida not to change his will without plaintiff's consent. Defendant's motions for dismissal of the complaint and summary judgment were dismissed. The appellate division on reargument entered orders reversing the lower court. On plaintiff's appeal to the court of appeals, held, affirmed. The New York Personal Property Law, which states that oral contracts to bequeath property are void, is controlling, regardless of whether this section of the statute of frauds is procedural or substantive. If the section is procedural, the …

Conflict Of Laws - Brokerage Contracts - Out-Of-State Broker Denied Commission Because Of Isolated Acts Within Forum, Richard J. Riordan S.Ed.

Michigan Law Review

Plaintiff was a Massachusetts real estate broker, not licensed to do business in New York. Defendants, who resided in New York, owned real estate in Massachusetts and executed a brokerage contract there with the plaintiff. The real estate was leased to a Massachusetts corporation through plaintiff's efforts. All of plaintiff's services, with the exception of several important conferences in New York, were performed in Massachusetts. On plaintiff's suit for unpaid commissions, held, for defendant. The New York brokerage laws prohibit recovery in a New York court by brokers, unlicensed in New York, who perform any brokerage services within the …

Rationale Of Valuation Of Foreign Money Obligations, Charles Evan

Michigan Law Review

What then should a creditor of a foreign money obligation collect where there was a delay in payment? When are damages for depreciation of foreign money recoverable? As of what time and in what currency are they to be computed? How is the value of a foreign money obligation to be measured where no damages may be had? The answers to these and other incidental questions require a thorough analysis of certain features peculiar to the law of money.

It is the purpose of this article to clarify these problems, to sum up the primary principles by which they are …

Conflict Of Laws - Contracts - Enforcement Of Foreign Contract Though Contrary To State, William G. Cloon, Jr. S.Ed.

Michigan Law Review

Plaintiff, a citizen of Texas, obtained from the defendant an insurance policy which was written and delivered in Texas. The defendant agreed to pay for any damages to plaintiff's truck caused by fire, but stipulated that any dispute over the amount of the loss should he determined by arbitration proceedings in accordance with the terms of the contract. The truck was damaged by fire in Arkansas and a dispute arose over the amount of the loss. Plaintiff refused to submit the question to arbitration and brought this suit in the Federal District Court for Arkansas. Defendant argued that the action …

The Law Of Belligerent Occupation In The American Courts, Morris G. Shanker S.Ed.

Michigan Law Review

This comment will investigate the extent to which the law of belligerent occupation has actually become a part of the American municipal law, and thereby attempt to determine whether it was properly applied in this case.

Conflict Of Laws-Validity Of A Contract-Application Of Renvoi, R. Lawrence Storms S.Ed.

Michigan Law Review

Plaintiff (British actor, James Mason) and defendant signed an agreement in England contemplating the formation of an American company for producing motion pictures. Plaintiff was to give his exclusive services to the company, and defendant was to make all financial arrangements and generally to manage the company. A dispute arose as to the legal effect of the agreement. Plaintiff won a judgment that the agreement was not a valid contract because of its indefiniteness as to essential terms. On appeal, held, affirmed. Mason v. Rose, (2d Cir. 1949) 176 F. (2d) 486.

Conflict Of Laws-Constitutional Law-Full Faith And Credit-Fraternal Benefit Society's Constitution Controlling Over Statute Of Limitations Of Forum State, Bruce L. Moore S.Ed.

Michigan Law Review

In an action against an Ohio fraternal benefit society to recover insurance benefits resulting from the death of an insured member, the defense was that the constitution of the society prohibited the bringing of an action on such a claim more than six months after disallowance of the claim. This provision was valid under the statutes and court decisions of Ohio. The statute of limitations of the state of the forum, South Dakota, was six years on contract actions. Another statute of South Dakota declared void every stipulation in a contract limiting the time within which a party may enforce …

Conflict Of Laws Relating To Installment Sales, Robert E. Lee

Michigan Law Review

The most perplexing problem in the field of installment contracts probably occurs when property sold by a title-retaining instrument (conditional sale, chattel mortgage, or bailment lease) in one state is removed to another state where rights of creditors of, or purchasers from, the buyer attach. Inasmuch as the possession of the article has been permitted to be in the buyer, so that outwardly, and with nothing more, he is the apparent owner, the important question arises as to whose rights are higher, the secret owner (the conditional seller, the chattel mortgagee, or the bailor) or the creditor of, or purchaser …

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-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--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-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 …

Recent Important Decisions

Michigan Law Review

A collection of recent important court decisions.

Note And Comment, Dean L. Lucking, Paul P. Farrens, George E. Brand, Walle W. Merritt, Albert E. Merder

Michigan Law Review

Concealing a Secret Trust by Making an Absolute Testamentary Gift to Testator's Solicitor; Conflict of State and Federal Regulations of Interstate Commerce Before the Latter Becomes Operative; Adverse Possession by an Alien and the Effect of Statute Removing an Alien's Disability to Inherit; The Rescission of a Pre-Corporate Contract on the Ground of Promoter's Fraud; When is an Agreement "Not to be Performed Within a Year"

Recent Important Decisions, Michigan Law Review

Michigan Law Review

Attachment--Jurisdiction Over Non-Resident; Bankruptcy--Debts Entitled to Priority--Workman, Clerk, Etc.; Bankruptcy--Title of Trustee Under Unrecorded Conditional Sale--Effect of Amendment of 1910; Bills and Notes--Actions--Real Party in Interest; Carriers--Limiting Liability for Loss of Baggage--Interstate Commerce; Commerce--Constitutionality of State Regulation of Rates; Commerce--Natural Gas as Subject of Interstate Commerce; Covenants Running with the Land--Establishment of Railroad Station; Damages--Penalty or Liquidated Damages--Construction of Stipulation in Contract; Deeds--Covenant to Stand Seised to Uses; Divorce--Recrimination--Dismissal of Bill-When Both Parties Guilty; Equity--Jurisdiction--Adequate Remedy at Law; Evidence--Admissibility of Admissions and Confessions of Accused to Prove the Corpus Delicti; Insurance--Suicide--Waiver of Statutory Provisions; Judgment--Collateral Attack on Judgment of Probate …

Recent Important Decisions, Michigan Law Review

Michigan Law Review

Agency--Agent's Liability When Name of Principal is Undisclosed; Attorney and Client--Admission to Practice--Moral Character; Bailment--Hiring--Conversion; Bankruptcy--Attempted Assignment by Trustee to a Creditor of Fraudulently Acquired Property; Bankruptcy--Fraudulent Conveyance--Vendor's Lien; Banks and Banking--Pass Books--Duty of Depositor; Bills and Notes--Antecedent Debt Constitutes Value; Common Carriers--Special Service; Conflict of Laws--Defense to an Action of Tort; Constitutional law--due Process of Law--Equal Protection of the Laws--Service on State Auditor as Attorney for Corporation; Contracts--Right of Privacy--Breach of Trust; Corporations--Ultra Vires; criminal Procedure--Indictment Must Negative Exception in Statute; Damages--Measure--Medical Attendance--Loss of Business; Damages--Mental Suffering--Failure to Deliver Telegram Promptly; Deeds--Redelivery to the Grantor--Effect as to Title; Easements …

Recent Important Decisions, Michigan Law Review

Michigan Law Review

Attorney--disbarment for Malpractice; Bills and Notes--Certification of Check; Bills and Notes--consideration--Illegal Use of Proceeds--Sunday Contracts; Bills and Notes--Notice of Protest; Carrier--Invalid Ticket--Tender of Cash Fare--Ejection of Passenger; Common Carriers--Express Companies--Municipal Tax on Delivery of Intoxicating Liquors--Mandamus to Compel Transportation; Common Carriers--Limitation of Liability by Special Contract--Hand Baggage; Constitutional Law--Obligation of Contract; Constitutional law--Privileges of Citizens--Interstate Commerce--Peddler's License; Corporations--conflict of Laws--Liability of Stockholders in Company Formed to Trade in a Foreign Country--Implied Authority to Pledge Personal Credit of Shareholders Under Foreign Law; Covenants--Privity of Estate; Criminal Law--False Pretenses--Post payable Check; Criminal Law--Presumption from Identity of Names; Deeds--Capacity of Grantor as Compared …

Recent Important Decisions, Michigan Law Review

Michigan Law Review

Arbitration and Award--By-Laws of Board of Trade--Ousting Courts' Jurisdiction; Bills and Notes--Accommodation Indorsement--Conflict of Laws; Bills and Notes--Material Alteration; Common Carriers--Duty to Notify Passenger of Arrival at His Destination--Must Awaken Sleeping Passenger if His Destination is Known; Constitutional Law--Anti-Trust Laws--Equal Protection of the Laws; Constitutional Law--Insurance--State Statutes Prohibiting Combinations Among Insurance Companies--Do Not Violate Fourteenth Amendment; Constitutional Law--Prosecution by Information due Process of Law; Contracts--Agreement to Employ Only Members of a Certain Union; Contracts--Public Policy--Location of Depots; Corporations--Reduction of Stock--Equitable Relief--Powers of Officers; Corporations--Suit by Stockholders--Refusal of Directors to Sue; Corporations--Suit in Stockholders' Names--Device to Confer Jurisdiction on Federal Courts; …

Recent Important Decisions, Michigan Law Review

Michigan Law Review

Attachment--alliams Writ--Collateral Attack; Attorneys--disbarment--Malfeasance in Office; Chattel Mortgages--Liability of Mortgagee for Selling More Property than Enough to Satisfy Debt; Conflict of Laws--Comity--Extraterritorial Effect of Laws; Constitutional Law--due Process of Law--Restraint of Insane Persons--Habeas Corpus; Constitutional Law--Eight-Hour Haw--Public contracts; Contempt--Libel of Court; Contract--Construction--Damages; Corporations--Fraud of Directors--Rights of Stockholders; Criminal Law--Habeas Corpus--Waver of Objections as to the Legality of Trial Court; Criminal Procedure--Bill of Exceptions--Presumption as to Evidence; Deeds--In Consideration of Support--Condition Subsequent--Charge Upon Land; Divorce--Alimony--Payment After Husband's Death; Elections--Conduct of Special Elections--Preparation of Ballots; Evidence--constitutional Law--Privilege--Witness; Evidence--Presumption--Suicide; Garnishment--Interests in Expectancy; Husband and Wife--Conveyance to Avoid Taxation--Trusts; Injunction--Parties--Contempt; Insurance, Fire--"Iron Safe" Clause--Waiver; …

Recent Important Decisions, Michigan Law Review

Michigan Law Review

Acknowledgment--Who May Take--Stockholder; Agency--Notice to Agent--Liability of Principal; Carriers--Express Messengers--Contracts Exempting from Liability--Validity--Public Policy; Carriers of Passengers--Elevators--Negligence--Degree of Care; Code Pleading--Allegation of Duty; Conflict of Laws--Wills--Execution of Power; Constitutional Law--Liberty--Police Power--Use of Trading Stamps; Corporations--Legaility of Voting Trust--Power to Revoke Authority; Covenants--Benefits and Burdens--Privity of Estate; Damages--Breach of Contract--Mental Suffering; Damages--Breach of Contract--Mental Suffering; Damages--Pleading--Special Injury--Admissibility of Evidence; Elections--Right of Board of Aldermen to Judge of Election of its own Members--Construction of Charter; Equity--Mortgages--Redemption by Co-Tenant--Improvements--rents and Profits--Executors' and Administrators' Liability for Unpaid Claims; Evidence--Competency--Wife's Testifying Against Husband--Mock Marriage; Insolvency--Partnership--Secured Creditors--Mortgage on Exempt Property--Mortgage on Property of Individual Partner; Insurance--Benefit …

Recent Important Decisions, Michigan Law Review

Michigan Law Review

Agency--Authority to Appoint Sub-Agents; Agency--right to Compensation; Bankruptcy--Discharge; Bankruptcy--Discharge; Banks and Banking--Crediting Depositor--Check of Another Depositor; Conflict of Laws--Legitimation of a Bastard--Status Fixed by Domicile of his Parents; Conflict of Laws--Lex Loci Fori--Right of Action in England for Acts in Foreign Country--Territorial Waters; Constitutional Law--Summary Sale of Trespassing Animals; Contract--Public Policy--General Restraint of Trade; Contract--Validity--Release of Employer for Liability to next of Kin for Injury to Employee; Elections--Right of a Party Committee to Question Eligibility of a Candidate; Fraudulent Conveyances--Contingent Fees; Insurance--Condition for Immediate Notice--Excuse; Married Women--Power to Enter into Partnership with Husband--Set off of Debt Due by Partner in …

Recent Important Decisions, Michigan Law Review

Michigan Law Review

Agency--Liability of Pincipal for Unknown Deceit of Agent; Action--Splitting Causes of--Injury to Person and Property; Attorney and Client--Jurisdiction of Equity over; Banks and Banking--Cashier--Notice; Carriers--Limiting Liability--Effect of Limitation in Case of Delivery After Notice to Stop in Transit; Carriers--Tort--Ejection of Passenger for Failure to Produce Ticket; Confict of Laws--Bona Vacatia--Rigth of Succession--"Mobilia Sequuntur Personam"; Conflict of Laws--Italian marriage--Deceased Husband's Brother; Conflict of Law--Equal Protection--Refusing Barbar's License to an Alien; Constitutional Law--Equal Protection--Requiring Examination of Graduate of Medical School of other States; Constitutional Law--Insurance Companies---Equal Protection of the Laws; Constitutional Law--Vested Right of Defense--Deprivation of Property Rights; Contract--Performance--Legal Holiday; Contract--Public Policy--Sale …