Evidence Commons^™

Procedure And Evidence, Edmund M. Morgan

Vanderbilt Law Review

Demurrer: The Tennessee cases reiterate the orthodox proposition that a demurrer admits the facts alleged or averred in the pleading to which it is interposed.' It is perhaps unnecessary to note that this proposition is true only when the problem concerns the sufficiency of the allegations or averments in the pleading. In truth, the demurrer is merely a default as to the facts and a tender of issue on the law. If the demurrer is overruled and the action is for unliquidated damages, the plaintiff's averment as to the amount of the damages is not taken as true; he must …

The Scope Of Summary Judgment Under The Federal Rules, Henry N. Williams

Vanderbilt Law Review

The Federal Rules of Civil Procedure provide that, under appropriate circumstances, either the plaintiff or the defendant may seek and obtain a summary judgment.' The detailed requirements of Rule 56 have been discussed elsewhere, and they will not be discussed herein other than as they aid in delineating the area covered by summary judgments. In determining the scope of Rule 56, the purpose of the rules as a whole must be considered as well as the effect of the discovery procedures of the rules. In addition the summary judgment rule must be explicitly distinguished from a motion for judgment on …

Federal Civil Procedure Rule 43(A): A Freak Among The Rules, Thomas F. Green Jr.

Vanderbilt Law Review

Rule 43(a) is an anomaly in the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.'Attorney General Cummings, the chief sponsor of the enabling act, apparently did not contemplate the inclusion of any rule dealing with the admissibility of evidence. The American Bar Association, which sponsored similar bills before Congress for years, laid much of the groundwork but abandoned the project prior to successful completion. A report of the Association's committee charged with the duty of "pushing" the then current version of the bill stated that the court rules were not to deal with evidence. The broadest expression in the bill which was enacted …

Constitutional Law-Due Process Of Law-Admissibility Of Confessions Under The Fourteenth Amendment, Harold G. Christensen S.Ed.

Michigan Law Review

The Supreme Court announced in 1936 that under certain circumstances the admission of a confession into evidence by a state court could amount to a denial of due process as guaranteed by the Fourteenth Amendment. Since that time there has been an increasing number of appeals seeking reversal of a conviction upon that ground and an expansion by the Court of the types of factual situations which will render a confession inadmissible. That this expansion reached its apex with the case of Watts v. Indiana and companion cases decided in 1949 appears probable in the light of a recent denial …

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 …

Federal Courts-Detected Verdicts In Civil Actions, Zolman Cavitch

Michigan Law Review

Juries must answer to questions of fact and judges to questions of law. This is the fundamental maxim acknowledged by the Constitution. When no fact question is present, no right to jury trial in a civil suit exists, and the constitutional guaranty is, therefore, not violated by the exercise of control by the court in keeping the jury to determination of questions of fact or in keeping it within the bounds of reason. One of the most important and often used methods of control is the directed verdict, whereby the court peremptorily instructs the jury to bring in a verdict …

Discovery Before Trial In Kentucky, William Threlkeld

Kentucky Law Journal

No abstract provided.

Evidence: Character Evidence In A Civil Trial, Giles J. Mccarthy

Kentucky Law Journal

No abstract provided.

Trial Practice-Demurrer Upon Evidence As A Device For Taking A Case From The Jury, Charles H. King

Michigan Law Review

By far the oldest of the common law devices for taking a case away from a jury is the demurrer upon evidence. A reported instance of its use appears as early as 1456.

Federal Procedure-Appeal Under Federal Food, Drug & Cosmetic Act--Scope Of Admiralty Appeal Compared With Appeal Under The New Federal Rules, De Witte Chatterton

Michigan Law Review

Appellee, the United States government, by a proceeding in rem, sought to condemn two shipments of canned oysters packed by appellant, the C. C. Company, under the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, on the ground that the oysters were wholly or partially decomposed. The district court found for the appellee on conflicting evidence of experts, and appellant appealed to the Circuit Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. On the theory that procedure on appeal should conform to appeals in admiralty, the circuit court of appeals reviewed the whole case de novo, reversed the district court on the ground …

The Rule Of Dying Declarations, Leo E. Oxley

Kentucky Law Journal

No abstract provided.

Instruments Of Discovery Under Federal Rules Of Civil Procedure, Alexander Holtzoff

Michigan Law Review

The elimination of the "sporting theory" of justice, the simplification of procedure, and the prompt disposition of controversies on their merits are the great objectives of the new federal civil practice. One of the principal means for the attainment of these purposes is discovery, by which a disclosure may be obtained in respect to all pertinent information in the possession of any party to a litigation. An exception is, of course, made for privileged matter. It is one of the basic theories of the new procedure that every party to a law suit is under a duty to reveal to …

Federal Courts - Federal Rules Of Civil Procedure - Rule 12(E) - Motion For Bill Of Particulars, Oliver B. Crager

Michigan Law Review

The United States brought an action against defendants, movie distributors and producers, for alleged conspiracies and monopolies in violation of the Sherman Anti-Trust Act. Defendants moved for a more definite statement or a bill of particulars under federal rule 12 (e). Held, bill of particulars allowed as to demands seeking ultimate facts, denied as to demands seeking evidentiary matter. United States v. Schine Chain Theatres, (D. C. N. Y. 1940) 1 F. R. D. 205.

Federal Courts - Rules Of Federal Procedure - Production Of Designated Documents And Things Under Rule 34, William C. Wetherbee Jr.

Michigan Law Review

Plaintiff sued for damages and loss of profits caused by the unlawful acts of the defendant beginning in January, 1937. Under rule 34 of the new federal rules the defendant moved that the court order the plaintiff to produce its books showing the company's commercial results for the period prior to January 1, 1936; its duplicate federal income tax returns for the years 1934 to 1938; and all copies of statements furnished to any bank or credit company over a period of some five years. Held, motion granted in regard to books of account and duplicate income tax returns …

Pleading And Practice-Objection After Verdict To Admissibility Of Evidence [United States V. Dressler, C. C. A. 7th, 1940]

Washington and Lee Law Review

No abstract provided.

Proceedings Of The Second Annual Law Institute - Vol Ii, University Of Michigan Law School

Event Materials

Proceedings of the Second Annual Law Institute Vol II

Held at the University of Michigan Law School, Ann Arbor, Michigan

Thursday, Friday, and Saturday June 20-22, 1940

Appeal And Error - Harmless And Prejudicial Error, Michigan Law Review

Michigan Law Review

In the trial of defendant for embezzlement, the prosecutor's opening address to the jury included a hearsay statement, regarding a tacit admission by defendant, tending to establish his guilt. Subsequently in the trial such hearsay statement was not allowed in evidence and the defendant now claims on appeal from conviction that the opening statement was prejudicial and thus he is entitled to a new trial. Held, that the statute governing reversals by an appellate court for prejudicial errors did not apply; and that a new trial follows as a matter of course because of a deprivation of the constitutional …

Witnesses - Privileged Professional Communications As Affected By The Presence Of Third Parties, Dan K. Cook

Michigan Law Review

Interesting problems arise in regard to privileged communications when made to the professional confidant in the presence of a third person. Such problems are concerned with the manner and degree in which the privilege is altered or destroyed by the presence of such third persons. It is the purpose of this comment to discuss the attorney-client and physician-patient privileges as affected by the presence of a third person, where the professional confidant and his client or patient are aware of such presence.

State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company V. Marie H. Justis

Virginia Supreme Court Records, Volume 168

Supreme Court of Appeals of Virginia at Richmond

Witnesses - Instruction As To Credibility Of Police Officers And Paid Detectives, Theodore R. Vogt

Michigan Law Review

Defendant was convicted of violating the liquor laws. He complained of the trial court's refusal to instruct the jury that greater care should be used in weighing the evidence of police officers than that of other witnesses. Held, such an instruction was properly refused because the witnesses were regular members of the city police force. McCartney v. State, 129 Neb. 716, 262 N. W. 679 (1935).

Practice And Procedure - Reservation Of Decision On Motion For Directed Verdict As Means Of Avoiding Unnecessary New Trials

Michigan Law Review

What may be done to remedy the situation if a jury brings in a verdict in favor of a party against whom a verdict should have been directed? This question becomes pertinent in view of the fact that judges, while hard pressed by counsel in the heat of trial, frequently wrongfully deny a motion for directed verdict and submit the case to the jury. One obvious remedy is the granting of a new trial by the trial judge, or by an appellate court after reversal. But this practice has proved eminently unsatisfactory, for it submits the aggrieved party to the …

Practice And Procedure - Direction Of Verdict - Scintilla Rule

Michigan Law Review

In an action to recover from the defendant gas company damage to the plaintiff's building caused by a gas explosion resulting from a defective pipe, the plaintiff's only evidence to prove the defendant's duty to repair it was that the pipe was used exclusively for the conveyance of the defendant's gas, and that the meters to which the pipe was connected were owned and controlled by the defendant. The trial court, by virtue of the scintilla rule, submitted the case to the jury which rendered a verdict for the plaintiff. Held, the scintilla rule no longer prevails in Ohio, …

Appeal And Error - Raising Insufficiency Of Defense For First Time On Appeal

Michigan Law Review

In defense to plaintiff's action for wages defendant pleaded facts showing an agreement whereby plaintiff was to accept $4,000 in full satisfaction of her claim. The jury found that no such agreement had been made and rendered a verdict for plaintiff in the sum of $7,500. On appeal by defendant the case was sent back for a new trial because of an error in the admission of evidence offered by plaintiff as to the existence of the alleged agreement. Appellee contended that notwithstanding the error the judgment should be affirmed because the agreement pleaded, even if proved, would not constitute …

Federal Practise-Review Of Facts-Instance Of When Verdict Must Be Directed

Michigan Law Review

This was a case in which a motion for a directed verdict was denied by the trial court on the ground that there was sufficient evidence to justify a submission of the case to the jury. The circuit court of appeals affirmed this, but on appeal to the Supreme Court it was held error. Southern Ry. Co. v. Walters (U.S. 1931) 52 Sup. Ct. 58.

Federal Practice - Appeal And Error - Harmless Error

Michigan Law Review

Plaintiff in error was convicted of illegally transporting intoxicating liquor. Federal officers were permitted to testify over defendant's objection: (1) that they found intoxicating liquor in defendant's automobile parked in his farm-yard; (2) that the radiator of the car was heated as if it had been recently used; (3) that they had followed defendant's car on the highway and into his farm-yard; (4) and that the defendant had admitted to them that he had driven the car. Defendant admitted on the witness stand that he owned both the liquor and the automobile, but denied that the automobile had been used …

Discovery Before Trial, George Ragland Jr.

Michigan Legal Studies Series

The purpose of this volume is to present in a convenient and usable form a comparative study of the expedients which are being employed in various American and English jurisdictions for the purpose of facilitating pre-trial practice, to describe the practical operation of the different devices, and to show their effect upon the general administration of justice. An analysis of the statutory and case law has been combined with data which shows the practical operation of the procedure in the everyday work of the lawyer and judge. Field studies were made by the author in different cities of the following …

Practice And Procedure - Demurrer To Evidence - Directing Verdict In Favor Of Party Having Burden Of Proof

Michigan Law Review

P purchased potatoes in Michigan. He instructed the defendant railroad to deliver the potatoes to the warehouse of B when they should arrive in Richmond. Instead, some were sent to another warehouse. Before P discovered the mistake, the potatoes spoiled. P made claim of loss six months and twenty days after the shipment left Michigan. The bill of lading provided that claims for loss or damage must be made in writing within six months after a reasonable time for delivery has elapsed. The testimony of Neiss, freight clerk, who was called by the defendant, was to the effect that eight …

Insurance - Estoppel - Parol Evidence Rule

Michigan Law Review

The plaintiff sued on a fire policy. The insurer defended on the ground that plaintiff had violated a condition of the policy which provided that there would be no liability if loss occurred while the property was encumbered by a chattel mortgage, unless the company's written consent thereto was endorsed on the policy. Plaintiff sought to estop the defendant as to this defense because of insurer's agent's assurances, given before and after the issuance of the policy, that the policy would permit him to encumber the goods. Held, defendant's demurrer to plaintiff's replication should be sustained because of plaintiff's …

The Burden Of Providing Payment, Leo Carlin

West Virginia Law Review

No abstract provided.

Discovery By Interrogatories, Daniel H. Ortmeyer

Indiana Law Journal

No abstract provided.