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Michigan Law Review

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Full-Text Articles in Evidence

Practice And Procedure - Demurrer To Evidence - Directing Verdict In Favor Of Party Having Burden Of Proof Jan 1932

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 …


Evidence - Burden Of Proof - Compliance With Stipulation In Bill Of Lading As To Time For Claim Of Loss Jan 1932

Evidence - Burden Of Proof - Compliance With Stipulation In Bill Of Lading As To Time For Claim Of Loss

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 had spoiled. P made claim of loss six months and twenty days after the shipment left Michigan. The bill of lading provided: "Sec. 2 (b). 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 …


Negligence - Res Ipsa Loquitur - Circumstantial Evidence Jan 1932

Negligence - Res Ipsa Loquitur - Circumstantial Evidence

Michigan Law Review

Defendant company owned, and was in possession of, a wall, from the top of which a loose piece of concrete fell and injured the plaintiff who was at work on land adjoining. In affirming a judgment for plaintiff, the court held that, while the doctrine of res ipsa loquitur did not apply, there was "evidence from which the jury could legitimately infer that the defendant was negligent in permitting loose pieces of concrete to remain on the wall." Pope v. Rending Co., (Pa. 1931) 156 Atl. 106.


Evidence - Privileged Communication Dec 1931

Evidence - Privileged Communication

Michigan Law Review

In a suit for divorce on the ground of adultery, a Luthern clergyman refused to testify concerning a disclosure made to him in his religious capacity by the defendant husband, on the ground that it was a privileged communication under the Minnesota statute. The district court adjudged him in contempt of court. Upon certiorari to the supreme court of Minnesota, held, the communication was privileged, and the order was reversed. In re Swenson (Minn. 1931) 237 N.W. 589.


Insurance - Estoppel - Parol Evidence Rule Dec 1931

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 …


Appeal And Error- Crimes - Evidence Not Objected To At Trial May 1931

Appeal And Error- Crimes - Evidence Not Objected To At Trial

Michigan Law Review

The defendant was convicted of murder in the first degree. At the trial, certain incompetent testimony was placed in evidence by the prosecution, to which the defendant's attorney failed to object. The point was sought to be raised on appeal under N. J. Comp. Stat. 1910 sec. 136, which provides that, in criminal cases, if "the plaintiff in error on the trial below suffered manifest wrong or injury, either in the admission or rejection of testimony, whether objection was made thereto or not * * * the appellate court shall remedy such wrong or injury * * * and order …


Administrative Tribunals--Judicial Notice Apr 1931

Administrative Tribunals--Judicial Notice

Michigan Law Review

The plaintiff corporation, a retail distributor of gas, contracted for its supply over a three-year period from a service company, and filed its rate schedule with the public utilities commission. The commission ordered a lower rate, its order being based on files of schedules of other distributing companies, which were found to show that the plaintiff's contract was excessive and that a lower rate could have been contracted for. These files were not introduced into evidence, but the commission took notice of them as a matter of public record. Plaintiff petitioned for an injunction against enforcement of the order. Held …


Evidence-Admission By Party Litigant-Substantive Proof Or Impeachment Apr 1931

Evidence-Admission By Party Litigant-Substantive Proof Or Impeachment

Michigan Law Review

ln an action against an employer for personal injuries, after the plaintiff had testified as to negligence of a fellow servant, his signed statement detailing a contrary account of the injury was introduced. The trial judge charged that the statement was admissible only for the purpose of contradicting the plaintiff's testimony. Held, it was admissible as a declaration against interest with probative value, as well as to impeach the plaintiff's testimony. Pub. Utilities Corp. v. Carden (Ark. 1930) 32 S.W.(2d) 1058.


Evidence-Other Crimes Feb 1931

Evidence-Other Crimes

Michigan Law Review

Judging from the number of opinions handed down in 1930 involving evidence of other crimes committed by the defendant, the modem criminal trial is not complete without some attempt to introduce evidence of this sort.


Evidence-Ballistics As Subject Matter Of Expert Testimony Feb 1931

Evidence-Ballistics As Subject Matter Of Expert Testimony

Michigan Law Review

W, among other things a professional expert witness and a ballistics expert, testified that the bullet found in the body of the deceased was fired from the gun identified as being that of the defendant. Held, the evidence was properly admitted. People v. Fisher et al. (Ill. 1930) 172 N.E. 743.


Insurance-Misrepresentations-Insertion Of False Answers By Medical Examiner Jan 1931

Insurance-Misrepresentations-Insertion Of False Answers By Medical Examiner

Michigan Law Review

If an applicant for life insurance, in answering the many questions put to him by the company's medical representative, tells the truth, but the examiner, in recording the answers, distorts them without the knowledge of the insured, may the beneficiary or the personal representative of the insured show this distortion by parol, and collect on the policy in spite of the presence of false written answers in the application? The New York court of appeals, in the very recent case, Minsker v. John Hancock Mutual Life Insurance Co., 254 N. Y. 333, 173 N.E. 4, answers this question in …


Evidence-Contributory Negligence-Burden Of Proof-Presumption Of Due Care Jan 1931

Evidence-Contributory Negligence-Burden Of Proof-Presumption Of Due Care

Michigan Law Review

This case was an administrator's action to recover damages for the death of the plaintiff's intestate who was struck by an automobile operated by the defendant. There were no eyewitnesses other than the decedent and the defendant. On trial the plaintiff introduced evidence of the defendant's negligence, but under the circumstances of the case, was unable to introduce affirmative evidence that the decedent was free from contributory negligence. Held, one judge dissenting, that there was no presumption that the decedent exercised due care, and therefore, the non-suit granted by the lower court was affirmed. Kotler v. Lalley (Conn. 1930) …


Negligence-Res Ipsa Loquitur-Presumption Of Management From Ownership-Unattended Automobile Dec 1930

Negligence-Res Ipsa Loquitur-Presumption Of Management From Ownership-Unattended Automobile

Michigan Law Review

After the sound of a crash, the defendant's motortruck was found on the plaintiff's porch. Held, the doctrine of res ipsa loquitur was applicable.


Aviation-Trespass-Nuisance Dec 1930

Aviation-Trespass-Nuisance

Michigan Law Review

Land-owners sought to enjoin flight over their property as a trespass and nuisance; and to enjoin as a nuisance the use of the adjoining field as a base from which to make such flights. Held, injunction denied because of insufficient evidence of injury. Flight at 500 feet or more was impliedly authorized by the statute forbidding flight lit less than that attitude over buildings or persons. Mass. Acts, 1922, ch. 534, sec. 1 sub-sec. 55. As to occasional flights over unoccupied brush land at a height of about 100 feet in landing or taking off, injunctive relief was denied …


Evidence--Physician-Patient Privilege--Express And Implied Waiver Dec 1930

Evidence--Physician-Patient Privilege--Express And Implied Waiver

Michigan Law Review

Defendant's intestate applied for insurance with "plaintiff, expressly waiving, for himself and beneficiaries, the privilege of excluding testimony of physicians who had then attended him or might do so later. The policy lapsed, but the insured, falsely representing that he was in good health and had consulted no doctor for any cause, secured a reinstatement. He died six months later. Plaintiff sued for cancellation, and defendant objected to the testimony of physicians who had been consulted before and after the reinstatement. Held, the testimony was admissible, since the privilege was waived; also the mere fact that there were consultations …


Witnesses-Refreshing Memory-Past Recollection Dec 1930

Witnesses-Refreshing Memory-Past Recollection

Michigan Law Review

Action on a claimed oral renewal of a burglary insurance policy. Nearly six months after the alleged renewal W made an affidavit stating that she heard defendant's agent tell plaintiff that plaintiff's policy had been renewed. This affidavit was drawn up by plaintiff's attorney. On the trial eight years later W was unable to recall any such conversation and the affidavit did not refresh her memory. The court over objection admitted the affidavit itself in evidence. Held, since the affidavit was not made at or near the time of the event recorded, and was drawn up by one of …


Wills-Loose Sheets As A Will Dec 1930

Wills-Loose Sheets As A Will

Michigan Law Review

Testatrix's will contained twenty-eight sheets of correspondence paper, each complete in itself and not physically bound together. When presented for probate, the last sheet held only an attestation clause and the signatures of testatrix and witnesses; each of the others was, signed by testatrix; and the whole group were consecutively numbered. The attesting witnesses, employed at the bank with which testatrix did business, identified the writing on all twenty-eight sheets as that of testatrix, but could not say that these very sheets were present when the last was executed. They testified there was a bundle of similar sheets, and one …


Witnesses-Immunity From Self-Incrimination-Statute Requiring Testimony That Would Subject Witness To A Penalty Nov 1930

Witnesses-Immunity From Self-Incrimination-Statute Requiring Testimony That Would Subject Witness To A Penalty

Michigan Law Review

Acts 1921, No. 203 of Vermont required a disclosure from all persons convicted of intoxication as to the persons from whom the liquor was obtained. The petitioner was convicted of intoxication and on his refusal to disclose the person from whom he obtained the liquor was adjudged to be in contempt and committed to jail. Held, petitioner was in unlawful restraint and should be discharged, as the law requiring the disclosure was unconstitutional, article ten of the state constitution providing that no person could be compelled to give evidence against himself. In the light of Acts 1921, No. 204 …


Evidence-Prior Inconsistent Statement-Corroborative Testimony Nov 1930

Evidence-Prior Inconsistent Statement-Corroborative Testimony

Michigan Law Review

W, a witness for the prosecution in a murder trial, testified that he had known the defendant about five years before, and was sure he was one of the two men who fired the fatal shots. On cross examination he was asked whether or not he had testified at a preliminary hearing to the effect that he had never known or seen the man before the date of the murder. He admitted the inconsistency, but on redirect examination was permitted to explain that he had not properly understood the question put to him at the preliminary hearing. The prosecution was …


The Supreme Court's Construction Of The Self-Incrimination Clause, Edward S. Corwin Nov 1930

The Supreme Court's Construction Of The Self-Incrimination Clause, Edward S. Corwin

Michigan Law Review

The Fourth Amendment of the Constitution reads as follows: "The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the person or things to be seized." The so-called "self-incrimination clause" of Amendment V reads as follows: "No person * * * shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself."


Crimes-Alibi-Instructions As To Particular Evidence Mar 1929

Crimes-Alibi-Instructions As To Particular Evidence

Michigan Law Review

In a prosecution for robbery the defendants introduced evidence as to an alibi and requested a charge which contained the proposition that the evidence on this point had merely to raise a reasonable doubt as to their presence at the scene of the crime to entitle them to an acquittal. The court refused this request, but had previously instructed the jury that the burden rested with the state to prove the guilt of the. defendants beyond a reasonable doubt. Held, that it was reversible error to refuse the charge requested. People v. Vasquez (Cal. App. r928) 26g Pac. 549.


Recent Important Decisions Feb 1929

Recent Important Decisions

Michigan Law Review

A collection of recent important court decisions.


Telegraph, Telephone And Wireless-Tapping Jan 1928

Telegraph, Telephone And Wireless-Tapping

Michigan Law Review

A recent Federal case, Olmstead v. United States, suggests an interesting problem. Evidence obtained by Federal authorities, who tapped private telephone wires, was admitted in a criminal prosecution. It seems to be the general rule that fraudulently, wrongfully, or illegally procured evidence is admissible, if otherwise admissible. And certainly the courts have required telegraph companies to disclose messages to aid criminal prosecutions. Telegraph operators have been compelled to testify. And even where a state statute forbade disclosure of the message by the company, a subpoena duces tecum has compelled the production of a telegram to aid the courts. Testimony …


Recent Important Decisions Jun 1927

Recent Important Decisions

Michigan Law Review

A collection of recent important court decisions.


Recent Important Decisions May 1927

Recent Important Decisions

Michigan Law Review

A collection of recent important court decisions.


Recent Important Decisions Apr 1927

Recent Important Decisions

Michigan Law Review

A collection of recent important court decisions.


Recent Important Decisions Feb 1927

Recent Important Decisions

Michigan Law Review

A collection of recent important court decisions.


Crimes-Charge To Jury Feb 1927

Crimes-Charge To Jury

Michigan Law Review

Defendant was indicted for murder and manslaughter under sections 15224-5, 3 Compiled Laws of Michigan 1915. The judge gave charges for first and second degree murder and for manslaughter. There was no evidence of murder. A manslaughter verdict was returned. The case was reversed because the murder charge was unsupported by any evidence, and because the defendant was hampered in cross examination. People v. Stahl, 234 Mich. 569, 208 N. W. 685.


Recent Important Decisions Dec 1926

Recent Important Decisions

Michigan Law Review

A collection of recent important court decisions.


Recent Important Decisions Nov 1926

Recent Important Decisions

Michigan Law Review

A collection of recent important court decisions.