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Full-Text Articles in Estates and Trusts

Homicide And Succession To Property, William M. Mcgovern Jr. Nov 1969

Homicide And Succession To Property, William M. Mcgovern Jr.

Michigan Law Review

Today, most jurisdictions bar a killer from succeeding to his victim's property. The traditional rationale for that result is that a criminal should not be allowed to enrich himself by his crime. Assuming that this principle is sound, its application in individual cases often proves troublesome. What would happen, for example, if the crime were of a lesser degree than murder, and the killer had no intent to enrich himself? If the killer is barred, who should take what would have been his share under a will? Or, if the decedent and murderer held property jointly, should the killer forfeit …


Wills - Probate - "Fraudulent" Destruction Notwithstanding Testator's Knowledge, Alan Rothenberg Feb 1962

Wills - Probate - "Fraudulent" Destruction Notwithstanding Testator's Knowledge, Alan Rothenberg

Michigan Law Review

Decedent executed a will in which he exercised a general testamentary power of appointment making plaintiff beneficiary of a trust. The will was delivered for safekeeping to a notary in Germany and subsequently destroyed in a bombing raid. Decedent, having learned of the destruction of his will, died ten months later without executing a new will in the interim. The Surrogate admitted the will for probate as one "fraudulently destroyed" under New York law. The Appellate Division reversed. On appeal to the New York Court of Appeals, held, reversed, three judges dissenting. The will was "fraudulently destroyed" within the meaning …


Macdonald: Fraud On The Widow's Share, Max Rheinstein Mar 1961

Macdonald: Fraud On The Widow's Share, Max Rheinstein

Michigan Law Review

A Review of FRAUD ON THE WIDOW'S SHARE. By William D. Macdonald


Descent And Distribution - Joint Ownership - Imposition Of Constructive Trust On Murderer Of Co-Tenant, John B. Schwemm S.Ed. May 1958

Descent And Distribution - Joint Ownership - Imposition Of Constructive Trust On Murderer Of Co-Tenant, John B. Schwemm S.Ed.

Michigan Law Review

A husband, owning land with his wife as tenants by the entireties, killed her and immediately thereafter committed suicide. In an action to determine ownership of the realty, both the probate and appellate courts declared that since a relevant disinheritance statute was inapplicable, full title vested in the husband and, upon his death, descended to his heirs. On appeal, held, reversed. Despite the common law nature of such tenancies, equity will impose on the husband a constructive trust in one-half the property for the benefit of the victim's estate. National City Bank of Evansville v. Bledsoe, (Ind. 1957) …


Abstracts, Mary Jane Plumer Apr 1944

Abstracts, Mary Jane Plumer

Michigan Law Review

The abstracts consist merely of summaries of the facts and holdings of recent cases and are distinguished from the notes by the absence of discussion.


Bankruptcy - Collection Of Assets - Satisfaction Of Conversion Claim From Non-Estate Assets, Jerry P. Belknap Jan 1941

Bankruptcy - Collection Of Assets - Satisfaction Of Conversion Claim From Non-Estate Assets, Jerry P. Belknap

Michigan Law Review

It is well-settled that a trustee in bankruptcy must use due diligence in collecting the assets of the bankrupt estate, and that he will be charged with the value of assets lost by a failure to discharge this duty. A difficult problem arises, however, where the bankrupt has converted and wasted estate assets, and subsequently acquires sufficient non-estate assets to equal the value of the assets converted. If there is a method whereby the trustee can obtain restitution for the loss to the estate, he must use due diligence to collect the claim for the benefit of creditors, or be …


Trusts-Liability Of Trust Estate For Torts Of Trustee Feb 1936

Trusts-Liability Of Trust Estate For Torts Of Trustee

Michigan Law Review

Defendants, trustees of land which had been leased for years to plaintiff, demanded that plaintiff stop removing crops from the land until the past-due rent was paid. Such a removal of crops was a criminal offense by South Carolina statute. In a suit for libel against the defendants in their representative capacity, held, defendants' demurrer sustained. Ross v. Moses, 175 S. C. 355, 179 S. E. 757 (1935).


Succession By Murderer-Applicability Of Constructive Trust Apr 1931

Succession By Murderer-Applicability Of Constructive Trust

Michigan Law Review

There do not seem to have been any decided cases in the early common law on the question whether a murderer could succeed to the title to property left by his victim, or derive any benefit from his crime. By the civil law the legal title passed to the criminal, and was afterwards confiscated by the state. What may be said to be the modem rule is not so definitely determined, The numerical majority of cases, beginning with the first case to be decided on the exact question in 1888, have held that he could not succeed. But the decisions …


Recent Important Decisions, Michigan Law Review May 1922

Recent Important Decisions, Michigan Law Review

Michigan Law Review

Assignments- Assignment of an Expectancy - Joseph and James were two of six children. A contract witnessed "that Joseph Snyder has sold to James Snyder one undivided sixth of the real estate owned by the mother, Susan Snyder; to secure said interest to James after her death, the mother unites in the conveyance of said interest The said Joseph warrants and defends the interest from all claims." The contract was signed by Joseph and by the mother. Held, Joseph had no estate which he could convey, and the contract, though made with the consent of the mother, was unenforceable either …


Recent Important Decisions Mar 1914

Recent Important Decisions

Michigan Law Review

A collection of recent important court decisions.


Recent Important Decisions Jan 1914

Recent Important Decisions

Michigan Law Review

A collection of recent important court decisions.


Recent Important Decisions Dec 1913

Recent Important Decisions

Michigan Law Review

A collection of recent important court decisions.


Note And Comment, Joseph H. Drake, Frederick R. Shearer, Jack M. Hendrick, Peter Balkema, Wilson W. Mills May 1913

Note And Comment, Joseph H. Drake, Frederick R. Shearer, Jack M. Hendrick, Peter Balkema, Wilson W. Mills

Michigan Law Review

Pecote: A Bit of Legal Archaeology - -In the case of Pusey v. Pusey, I Vern. 273 (1684), the "bil was, that a -horn, which time out of mind had gone along with the plaintiff's estate, and was delivered, to his ancestors in ancient times to hold their land by, might be delivered to him; upon which horn was the inscription, viz. pecote this horn to hold huy thy land." The bill was demurred to in that the plaintiff did not by his bill pretend to be entitled to this horn, either as executor or devisee; nor had he in …


Note And Comment, Edwin C. Goddard, Jack M. Hendrick, Wilson W. Mills, Samuel H. Morris, George A. Cram Apr 1913

Note And Comment, Edwin C. Goddard, Jack M. Hendrick, Wilson W. Mills, Samuel H. Morris, George A. Cram

Michigan Law Review

The Effect of the Carmack Amendment to the Hepburn Act Upon State Laws as to Limitation by Contract of the Amount of the Liability of a Common Carrier - Three recent decisions of the Supreme Court of the United States involving the construction, of the Carmack Amendment to the Hepburn Act may be considered together, as the second was governed wholly and the third largely by the decision of the first. In the first case plaintiff delivered to defendant express company at Cincinnati, Ohio, a diamond, ring consigned to Augusta, Georgia. The package was never delivered, and plaintiff recovered judgment …


Recent Important Decisions Mar 1913

Recent Important Decisions

Michigan Law Review

Bankruptcy - Judgment for Breach of Promis, Aggravated by Seduction, Not Dischargeable - Petitioner 'had secured a judgment against the bankrupt for the breach of a promise to marry, seduction under such promise having been pleaded in aggravation of damages; the common law rule prevails in New York and a woman may not maintain an action for her own seduction. The District Court (196 Fed. 571), viewing this as a judgment grounded solely in contract, and not in tort as "for -will-ful and malicious injury to the person or property of another," or for "seduction of an unmarried female," held …


Recent Important Decisions Feb 1913

Recent Important Decisions

Michigan Law Review

Bankruptcy - Jurisdiction of the District Court Exclusive Within Its District - A trustee in bankruptcy appointed, by the District 'Court for the District of Illinois filed a petition in the District Court for the Western District of Michigan for a summary order to require the respondent to surrender to the trustee certain moneys claimed as the property of the bankrupt. The respondent was a resident of the Eastern District of Michigan, and denied the jurisdiction of the court to issue an order to be enforced in another district. Held that the jurisdiction of the District Courts, in all bankruptcy …


Recent Important Decisions, Michigan Law Review Dec 1912

Recent Important Decisions, Michigan Law Review

Michigan Law Review

Adverse Possession--Railroads--Effect of Change of Line; Bankruptcy--Extension of Time for Filing Petition for Discharge; Bankruptcy--Voidable Preferences--Proceeds of Fire Insurance Policy; Bills and Notes--Liability of Irregular Indorser--Questions for Jury; Bills and Notes--Negotiability--Law Governing; Boundaries--Street--Land Made by Change in Street; Commerce--Interstate Commerce on Route Between Two Points in Same State; Criminal Law--Dead Bodies--Proper Burial; Constitutional Law--Involuntary Servitude; Deeds--New Grantee in Habendum--Construction; Deeds--Parol Reservation of Growing Crops by Vendor of Land; Evidence--Admissibility of Statements of a prior Holder of Negotiable Paper Against Transferee; Evidence--Right to Introduce Secondary Evidence of Contents of a Document When the Original is Beyond Jurisdiction of the Court; Guardian …


Recent Important Decisions, Michigan Law Review Nov 1912

Recent Important Decisions, Michigan Law Review

Michigan Law Review

Animals--Abuse--Malice Toward the Owner; Assault and Battery--Apparent Ability; Bankruptcy--marshaling Assets of Partnership and of Constituent Firm; Banks and Banking--Checks--Fictitious Payee; Bills and Notes--Bona Fide Holder; Carrier--duty to Protect Passengers; Constitutional law--Division of Powers--Infringement on Executive; Constitutional law--Eminent Domain--Supersedure of Ordinance of 1787; Constitutional law--Special Legislation--Automobiles; Corporations--Issue of Stock--Corporation of Two States; Courts--Jurisdiction--Damage to Real Property Without the State--Negligence; Damage--Personal Injuries Contributing to Disease; Deeds--Assignment o fright of Entry Between Heirs; Deeds--Restrictive Covenant--"building" Defined; Equity--Infringement of Trade Marks--"Clean Hands"--Husband and Wife--Estate by Entirety--Conveyance of Husband's Interest; Judgment--Effect of the Transcript of a Justice's Judgement Filed in the District Court; Judgment--Estoppel--Homestead; Marriage--What …


Recent Important Decisions, Michigan Law Review Jan 1912

Recent Important Decisions, Michigan Law Review

Michigan Law Review

Adverse Possession--Hostile Character--Possession Under Executory Contract for Sale; Bills and Notes--Bona Fide Purchase--Effect of Taking After Maturity; Bills and Notes--Bona Fide Purchase--Payment of Forged Check--Recovery of Payment; Bills and Notes--Invalidity of Note--Recovery Upon Original Consideration; Constitutional law--Due Process of Law--Situs of Ship for Purposes of Taxation; contracts--Sufficiency of Typewritten Signature; Copyright--Moving Pictures as Dramatization of Book; Corporations--Stockholder's Meetings--Effect of Withdrawal of Stockholders; Courts--The New Commerce Court--Jurisdiction--First Decision; Covenants Running with the Land--Building Restrictions; Damages--Excessiveness--Personal Injuries--Remittitur; Dead Bodies--Burial Determination of Place; Easements--Merger--Use by Owner of Servient Estate--Adverse Possession; Homicide--Burden of Proof When Insanity is a Defense; Intoxicating Liquors--Illegal Sale--"Dispensing"; Judgment--Collateral Attack--Defective …


Recent Important Decisions, Michigan Law Review Nov 1911

Recent Important Decisions, Michigan Law Review

Michigan Law Review

Adverse Possession--Actual Possession--Occupation of Part; Banks and Banking--Payment of Deposits on Forged Checks--Liability--Affirmative Defense; Banks and Banking--Payment of Check--Forged Indorsements; Cancellation of Instrument for Want of Consideration--Stauts Quo; Charities--Charitable Gift--Validity; Commerce--Interstate Commerce--Continuous Shipment--Violation of Elkins Act; Constitutional Law--Power of Judicial Department--Infringement on Executive; Conversion--Return of Goods as Defense; Conveyancing--Grantee's Name Left Blank; Courts--State Courts--Jurisdiction over National Banks; Criminal Law--Harmless Error in Admission of Evidence; Equity--Subrogation of Mortgagor to Rights of Mortgagee; Evidence--Admissibility of Statements in Corroboration of Testimony of Discredited Witness; Evidence--Other Offenses as Evidence of Offense Charged; Fixtures--Between Vendor of Chattel and Mortgagee of Land; Husband and Wife--Action Against …


Recent Important Decisions, Michigan Law Review Jan 1911

Recent Important Decisions, Michigan Law Review

Michigan Law Review

Adverse Possession--Paper Title--Constructive Possession--Occupancy; Bankruptcy--Property Vesting in Trustee--Insurance Policies with Cash Surrender Value Absorbed by a Lien; Bankruptcy--Provable Debts--Contingent Claims--Landlord and Tenant; Bills and Notes--Incomplete and Undelivered Check, completed and Negotiated by Thief--Delivery Not Presumed; Bills and Notes--Note Distinguished from Testamentary Disposition; Contracts--Consideration--Forbearance to Sue; Contracts--Illegal Contract--Agent's Liability for Proceeds; Corporations--corporate Stock--Priority of Rights Between Unrecorded Transferee and Attachment Creditor; Criminal Procedure--Sealed Verdict--Separation of Jury; Eminent Domain--Streets--Power to Condemn Land Required for Railroad Purposes; Evidence--Presumptions and Burden of Proof in Case of Corporation Charged with Crime; Garnishments--On What Actions Available--Liquidated Claims; Insurance--change of Rates in Mutual Benefit Association; Judgments--Foreign Judgment--Merger--Bar; …


Recent Important Decisions, Michigan Law Review Apr 1910

Recent Important Decisions, Michigan Law Review

Michigan Law Review

Bankruptcy--Surety's Rights to Subrogation--Preferred Claim; Bills and Notes--Negotiability--Effect of Words "Not Transferable" Added to Negotiable Note; Bills and Notes--Transfer of Note by Indorsement--What Law Governs the Indorser's Contract; Boundaries--Private Way--Title to Fee--Presumption; Civil Rights--Equal Privileges--Place of Amusement--Advertising Material; Constitutional Law--Inequality--classification--Child Labor; Constitutional Law--Limitations on the Taxing Power--Convict-Made Goods--Equal Protection of Laws; Contracts--Real Estate Brokers--Oral Authorization for Sale of Land--Commissions; Criminal Law--Post Office--Fraudulent Use of Mails; Damages--Measure of, in Case of Wrongful Death; Damages--Mitigation of, in Action for Personal Injuries--Duty to Submit to Medical Operation; Deed of Standing Timber--Time of Removal; Divorce--Extent of Relief--Absolute Divorce; Divorce--Vacation of Decree--Perjured Testimony; Evidence--Offer to …


Recent Important Decisions, Michigan Law Review Nov 1909

Recent Important Decisions, Michigan Law Review

Michigan Law Review

Bankruptcy--Trustee's Right to Enforce Stockholder's Statutory Liability; Bills and Notes--Failure of Consideration--When Maker is Estopped From Pleading It; Bills and Notes--Instrument Payable After Death--Whether Valid Obligation or of a Testamentary Character; Carriers--Interstate and Intrastate Commerce; Carriers--Regulations Relative to Shipment of Live Stock; Constitutional Law--Equal Protection of Laws--Foreign Corporations--Statute Forfeiting Right to Do Business; Constitutional law--Police Power--Personal Liberty--Photographing Persons Charged With Crime; Contempt--Murder of Prisoner Pending His Appeal; Counties--Action by Taxpayer--Compensation of Attorney; Criminal Law--What Constitutes a Disorderly House; Damages--Allowance of Attorney's Fees--rule in Hadley v. Baxendale Applied; Eminent Domain--Taking or Damaging Property--Noise and Smoke From Operation of Railroad; Equity--Illegal Contract--Duty …


Recent Important Decisions, Michigan Law Review May 1909

Recent Important Decisions, Michigan Law Review

Michigan Law Review

Bankruptcy--Discharge of Bankrupt From Arrest--Claims--Judgment--Willful and Malicious Injury; Bills and Notes--anomalous Indorser; Bills and Notes--Innocent Holder of Note Given on the Sale of "Futures"; Constitutional Law--Imprisonment for Debt; Elections--Constitutionality of "Terrell Election Law"; Eminent Domain--Accretions--Extending Highway--Compensation; Guaranty--Consideration--Past and Future Advances; Intoxicating Liquors--Right to Withdraw Names from Local Option Petition; Intoxicating Liquors--Sale of Malt Tonic; Landlord and Tenant--Change in Law Preventing Use of Part of Premises--Abatement of Rent; License--Parol Permission to Use Lands--Revocation of, After Expenditures by Licensee; Mandamus--Nature of the Remedy; Master and Servant--Injuries to Third Persons; Master and Servant--Injuries to Third Persons--Dual Relation--Proximate Cause; Monopolies--Right to Recover on Monopolistic …


Recent Important Decisions, Michigan Law Review Apr 1909

Recent Important Decisions, Michigan Law Review

Michigan Law Review

Arson--Persons Liable--Husband or Wife; Bankruptcy--Exemptions--Homesteads; Carriers--Bill of Lading--Estoppel to Deny Receipt of Goods; Commerce--Carriers--State Regulation--Congressional Inaction; Constitutional Law--Interstate Commerce--Compelling Carrier to Share Facilities with Rival--Due Process of Law; Constitutional Law--Right to Engage in the Business of an Undertaker; Counties--Railway Aid Bonds--Conditions Precedent; Covenants--Power of Court of Equity to Compel Release of, as Cloud on Title; Divorce--alimony--Divorce Granted Against Wife; Eminent Domain--Appropriation of Property--Street Railway Addition Burden; Evidence--Admissibility of Confessions; Evidence--Hearsay Declarations of Pedigree; Execution--Sale--Inadequacy of Price--Setting Aside; Insurance--Exception in Fire Insurance Policy--"Cotton in Open Cars"; Insurance--Right to Sue on Indemnity Policy--Payment of Loss by Receiver's Note; Intoxicating Liquors--Illegal Sale--Ordinance--Validity; Intoxicating …


Recent Important Decisions, Michigan Law Review Mar 1909

Recent Important Decisions, Michigan Law Review

Michigan Law Review

Assignment for Creditors--Validity of Common Law Assignment Under State Statutes--Assignee May Maintain Replevin; Bills and Notes--Fraud--Ability to Read; Bills and Notes--Signature by Agent or Representative--Personal Liability; Boundaries--Meander Line as Boundary in Government Grants--Mistake in Survey; Carriers--Liability as Carriers of Live Stock; Contracts--Antenuptial Agreements--Performance Prevented by Party; Courts--Supreme Court--Review of Decisions of State Courts; Courts--United States Courts Enjoining Proceedings in State Courts--establishment of Railroad Rates by Commission; Criminal Law--Larceny--Fraudulent Use of Legal Process; Criminal Law--Reception of Verdict--Accused's Right to be Present; Dead Bodies--Power of Court to Order Exhumation to Procure Evidence; Evidence--Burden of Proof; Evidence--compelling Accused to Criminate Himself--Waiver of Privilege; …


Note And Comment, Harry B. Hutchins, Edson R. Sunderland Dec 1908

Note And Comment, Harry B. Hutchins, Edson R. Sunderland

Michigan Law Review

What is the Practice of Medicine?; The Extent of the Land to Which a Mechanics' Lien Attaches; May a Murderer Acquire Property From His victim by Descent or Devise?; One Way to Prevent Some of the "Law's Delays";


Recent Important Decisions, Michigan Law Reviw May 1908

Recent Important Decisions, Michigan Law Reviw

Michigan Law Review

Adverse Possession--Property Subject to Highways; Agency--Brokers--Commissions--When Earned; Bankruptcy--Acts of Bankruptcy--Payment with Intent to Prefer a Creditor; Bankruptcy--Jurisdiction of Court--Suits Between Trustee and Claimants of Property--Suites Against Trustee; Bills and Notes--Nonnegotiable Notes--Liability of Indorser; Bonds--Joint Stock Association--Negotiability; Carriers--Free Transportation as a Penalty; Carriers--Waiver of Stipulations as to Suits; Constitutional Law--Due Process of Law--Indeterminate Sentence Law; Constitutional Law--corporations--Foreign Corporations--Exclusion For Removal of Cause to Federal Courts; Constitutional law--Powers of Constitutional Convention; Criminal Law--Capital Offense--Bail--When Granted; Criminal Law--Murder--Elements of Murder; Damages--Action by Husband for Loss of Wife's Services; Damages--Failure to Deliver Telegram--Mental Suffering--Near Relative; Deeds--Joiner of Infant Husband; Divorce--Temporary Alimony and Counsel Fees--Appeal--Decisions …


Recent Important Decisions, Michigan Law Review Apr 1908

Recent Important Decisions, Michigan Law Review

Michigan Law Review

Adoption--Defect in Proceedings--Effect; Bankruptcy--Equitable Rights under Unrecorded Mortgage--Agreement to Insure--Equitable Lien on Insurance Money; Bankruptcy--Insolvent Firm--Individual Estate of Unadjudicated Solvent Partner Not Subject to Administration; Bills and Notes--Liability of Indorser of Non-Negotiable Note; Bills and Notes--Liability of Irregular Indorser; Carriers--Wrongful Treatment of Passengers--Damages for Mental Suffering; Constitutional Law--Imprisonment for Debt--Peonage; Constitutional Law--Interstate Commerce--Shipments Within a State; Corporations--Foreign Corporations--Effect of Withdrawal From State--Validity of Service; Courts--Jurisdiction--Action Under the Laws of Another State; Covenants--Running with the Land; Damages--Destruction of Growing Grass; Evidence--Admissibility of a Deed as an Ancient Document; Evident--Admissions in Pleading; Garnishment--Nonresident Defendant--Jurisdiction; Jury--Right to Trial by Twelve Jurors--Waiver of Jury; …


Recent Important Decisions, Michigan Law Review Mar 1908

Recent Important Decisions, Michigan Law Review

Michigan Law Review

Bankruptcy--Assignment--Validity--Possession of Res.; Carriers--Assaults by Employees on Passengers; Constitutional Law--Judicial Powers--Legislative Action of City Council Not Enjoined; Constitutional Law--Privileges and Immunities; Constitutional Law--Taxation of Imports; Contracts--Accord and Satisfaction--Consideration; Corporations--Liability of Bondholders on "Bonus Stock"; Covenants--Creation by Acceptance of Deed Poll; Criminal Law--Habeas Corpus--Want of Jurisdiction; Damages--For Wrongful Cutting of Timber--Value of the Manufactured Lumber; Evidence--Admissions of a Tenant in Common; Evidence--Effect of Plaintiff's Refusal to Submit to Physical Examination; Equity--Laches; foreign Corporations--What Constitutes "doing Business" in the State--Restrictions on State in Case of Interstate Commerce; Injunction--Suspension of Operative Force Pending Appeal; Judgment--conclusiveness--Matters Concluded; Judgment--foreign Judgment--Enforcement; Landlord and Tenant--Trade Fixtures--Right of …