Jurisdiction Commons^™

Constitutional Law - Commerce Clause - Federal Trade Commission - Jurisdiction Over Intrastate Commerce Affecting Interstate Commerce, John C. Johnston

Michigan Law Review

Appellee, an Illinois corporation engaged in manufacturing and selling candy within the state of Illinois, used in marketing its product a method of "break and take" packages involving an element of chance. The Federal Trade Commission had found that this practice constituted "unfair competition" and had ordered one hundred twenty of appellee's competitors who were engaged in interstate commerce to cease using it. The commission issued a like order against appellee on the theory that its activities, although wholly intrastate, "affected" interstate commerce. Appellee appealed from the order, contending that the Federal Trade Commission Act did not authorize the commission …

Judgments - Declaratory Judgments - Availability To Alleged Infringers In Patent Cases, Michigan Law Review

Michigan Law Review

In addition to an injunction and an accounting, the prayer of the plaintiff requested a declaratory judgment to determine the plaintiff's rights in relation to a patent of the defendant. The petition alleged the plaintiff was importing and offering for sale a chemical called "Estradoil," and that the defendant had notified the plaintiff's customers that the chemical infringed the defendant's patent. A year prior to the action, the defendant had published a notice in a trade journal stating that a certain patent had been issued to it which covered the chemical known as "Estradoil," and that any use of the …

Taxation - Jurisdiction To Tax The Equitable Interest Of A Trust Beneficiary, Rex B. Martin

Michigan Law Review

Pennsylvania levied a property tax on a resident beneficiary's equitable interest in a New York trust. The settlor of the trust, a New York resident, had created the trust there and both the trustee and the stocks and bonds comprising the corpus were in that state. The beneficiary had no control over the disposition or management of the corpus and was entitled merely to the income of the trust for her life. The Pennsylvania Supreme Court upheld the tax. On appeal to the United States Supreme Court, held, in a per curiam decision without opinion, that the state court's …

Any More Light On Haddock V. Haddock? The Problem Of Domicil In Divorce, Harold Wright Holt

Michigan Law Review

AT first glance it seems a work of foolhardiness or of supererogation to embark upon a rediscussion of any problems arising from Haddock v. Haddock. True, the decision of the majority of the Supreme Court in that case has not won wholehearted support from the bench or legal profession. True it is, also, that collusive divorces still flourish. These considerations alone might, perhaps, lead the reader to concede that it would not be unfruitful to speculate upon an eventual modification of some of the principles which the Court in that case approved. If, however, further justification is demanded of …

Injunctions - Power To Restrain Foreign Divorce Proceedings Declaratory Judgment As Adequate Legal Remedy, Michigan Law Review

Michigan Law Review

Plaintiff petitioned a New York court to restrain her husband from prosecuting an action for divorce in a Florida court, alleging that the parties were married in New York, had lived there as husband and wife for twelve years, were still residents of New York, and that the defendant's business was located in the state. The complaint also alleged that the defendant had abandoned the plaintiff without cause; that plaintiff could not bear the expense of defending the Florida action and, in the event of judgment, would lose her status as wife and her concomitant property rights. Held, this …

Jurisdiction Of Employee Suits Under The Fair Labor Standards Act, George W. Crockett Jr.

Michigan Law Review

The statutory authority for employee suits under the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 is found in section 16(b). Suits under this section have been instituted in both state and federal courts. In practically every case the defendant has, by a motion to dismiss, challenged the jurisdiction of the court. The usual ground for the challenge in the state courts is that such suits seek to recover penalties incurred under a statute of the United States, and are, therefore, within the exclusive jurisdiction of the district courts of the United States. The jurisdiction of the federal district courts is generally …

Federal Courts - Jurisdiction Over Violations Of Civil Liberties By State Governments And By Private Individuals, Eugene Gressman

Michigan Law Review

The long-term security of civil liberties in the United States must in the end depend upon the spirit and attitude of the public. Many violations of these rights never reach the stage of justiciable issues. But even when they do, public sentiment is often reflected in the courts. Especially is this true in the state courts, which are often too near local prejudices and entrenched mores to withstand their effect. This situation was recognized as long ago as the Reconstruction Era, when the various civil rights acts provided for federal protection of civil liberties. Apparently it was felt that from …

Bankruptcy-Corporate Reorganization-Publicly Held Securities As A Test Of Availability Of Relief Under Chapters X And Xi Of The Chandler Act, Edward S. Biggar

Michigan Law Review

Chapter X of the amended Bankruptcy Act of 1938 was mainly the product of the investigation by the Securities and Exchange Commission of reorganization practices under the old equity procedure and under section 77B. The chief aim of the sponsors of this new chapter was to preclude the control of reorganization proceedings by "inside" groups, and thereby more adequately protect the interests of investors. Contemporaneously with the overhauling of section 77B, however, other sections of the old Bankruptcy Act were being revised. Among the changes effected, old sections 12 and 74, dealing with extensions and compositions, were remodelled and combined …

Corporations - Jurisdiction - Foreign Corporations And Venue In The Federal Courts - Consent To Be Sued, Theodore R. Vogt

Michigan Law Review

In the long history of the struggle to hold foreign corporations subject to suit at the place of their business activity/ another chapter was written when the Supreme Court decided Neirbo Company v. Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corp., Ltd., hereinafter referred to as the Neirbo case. In that case the plaintiffs, who were citizens and residents of New Jersey, had brought an action in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York and had sought and obtained the addition, as a party defendant, of Bethlehem, a Delaware corporation. Since, as between plaintiffs and Bethlehem, the suit had …

Taxation - Jurisdiction - Classification Of Property As Tangible Or Intangible, John L. Rubsam

Michigan Law Review

Respondent's decedent died testate in 1936 and was at the time of his death a resident of and domiciled in Oregon. In earlier years when he resided in Wisconsin he placed various stocks, bonds and other intangibles in the possession of an Illinois trust company, which acted as his agent in collecting and investing the principal and income on these securities. These securities were always physically present in Illinois, never in Oregon. About six months before his death respondent's decedent directed the trust company to sell some of his bonds and purchase $450,000 worth of federal irrevocable trust for the …

The Powers Of A Court Of Equity In State Tax Litigation, Maurice S. Culp

Michigan Law Review

Hitherto a state taxpayer, otherwise meeting the jurisdictional requirements of a federal district court, could secure an injunction from such a court upon a showing that there was no adequate remedy at law in the federal district court, and this regardless of the legal or equitable remedies afforded by the state courts.

In view of this recent legislation, it becomes important to ascertain the new limitation upon the equity powers of the federal district courts in state tax litigation. Likewise, because of these new rigid limitations upon the jurisdiction of the federal courts, the attitude of the state courts of …

Constitutional Law - Original Jurisdiction Of United States Supreme Court - Availability As A Procedural Remedy To Avoid Multiple Taxation, Benjamin W. Franklin

Michigan Law Review

The state of Massachusetts instituted an original proceeding against the state of Missouri and individual citizens of Missouri for leave to file a bill of complaint, alleging that M. B. Blake died domiciled in Massachusetts; that she had created three trusts of securities, reserving a power of revocation over two; that the securities were held in Missouri where the trustees resided; that both states had statutes subjecting to taxation property passing by deed, grant or gift, made or intended to take effect in possession or enjoyment after the donor's death; that the Massachusetts statute taxed intangible property only when owned …

Circuit Courts And The Nisi Prius System: The Making Of An Appellate Court, William Wirt Blume

Michigan Law Review

Judicial systems organized under the influence of the English tradition have exhibited a tendency to pass through four stages of development. (1) In the first stage the highest court (not taking into consideration legislative bodies) has final appellate jurisdiction and a superior original jurisdiction, civil and criminal. The court is composed of three or more judges who sit in bank for the trial of cases. The judges may sit at a central place or go on circuit throughout the territory. (2) In the second stage the highest court has both original and appellate jurisdiction but does not undertake to try …

Taxation - Jurisdiction To Tax - Multiple Taxation Of Intangibles, Richard Brawerman

Michigan Law Review

In two recent decisions of the United States Supreme Court, Curry v. McCanless, and Graves v. Elliott, a majority of the justices refused to adhere to the doctrine that the Fourteenth Amendment prohibits taxation of intangibles by more than one state, and subscribed instead to the view that control and benefit are together the only test of jurisdiction of the states to tax. In Curry v. McCanless, the decedent, a resident of Tennessee, had created a trust of intangibles, reserving control over the income during her life and power to revoke the trust by will. The trust …

Bankruptcy - Corporate Reorganization - Validity Of Process Outside Territorial Confines Of Federal District Court, Edmund O'Hare

Michigan Law Review

Debtor corporation had contracted with defendant, operator of a retail store, whereby defendant agreed to sell debtor's products exclusively and to buy all of his supplies from debtor. While debtor was in the course of section 77 B reorganization proceedings, defendant refused to continue to comply with the contract, Defendant resided and did business in the same state and federal judicial circuit in which the reorganization court was located, but not within the territorial confines of the court, nor was process served upon defendant within the court's territorial jurisdiction. Debtor moved for specific performance of the contract. Held, debtor's …

Labor Law - National Labor Relations Act - Jurisdiction Of The National Labor Relations Board, John C. Griffin

Michigan Law Review

Respondent, employing about sixty persons, was the sole owner of a garment-tailoring concern in New Jersey. His only business was with the Lee Company, a New York firm, that sold finished goods. There was no financial affiliation between them. The Lee Company purchased the cloth and caused it to be delivered to respondent. Respondent tailored it and delivered the finished product to a representative of the Lee Company at respondent's plant. This representative sent it back to New York in Lee Company trucks. Title to the cloth remained throughout in the Lee Company. Held, Justices McReynolds and Butler dissenting, …

Labor Law - Extent Of Jurisdiction Of The National Labor Relations Board, Ward P. Allen

Michigan Law Review

What possible legal or logical connection is there between an employee's membership in a labor organization and the carrying on of interstate commerce? It is "clear that the mere reduction in the supply of an article to be shipped in interstate commerce, by the illegal or tortious prevention of its manufacture, is ordinarily an indirect and remote obstruction on that commerce." Strange sounding words, these, so completely have these doctrines been repudiated in the National Labor Relations Act and the cases supporting it. The law is anything but static; and the legal touchstone of this "extension" of the interstate commerce …

Prohibition - Is The Writ Of Prohibition A Prerogative Writ?, Russel T. Walker

Michigan Law Review

The writ of prohibition originally issued from the king's temporal courts to the ecclesiastical courts to prevent any usurpation of jurisdiction of the king's courts by the spiritual courts. Prohibition has been classed as one of the prerogative writs, that is, a writ issued by the extraordinary power of the sovereign to interfere with private rights in order to preserve the prerogatives and franchises of the state. The writ of prohibition differed historically from the other prerogative writs in that its issuance was not discretionary with the court, but rather it was held to issue as a matter of right …

Obligatory Jurisdiction Of The Supreme Court: Appeals From State Courts Under Section 237(A) Of The Judicial Code, Seymour J. Rubin, Sidney H. Willner

Michigan Law Review

In two ways, a case decided by the state court of last resort may come to the Supreme Court of the United States: by certiorari, or by appeal. Certiorari is discretionary; and the considerations which will lead the Court to grant a writ of certiorari are set out in Rule 38 of the Supreme Court Rules, and are well-known to the practicing bar. Appeal, however, is directed to the obligatory jurisdiction of the Court. Rule 12 merely sets out the procedure to be followed in seeking an appeal; and for his decision as to whether he has substantive basis for …

Courts - Federal Courts - Removal Of Causes - Amendment To Complaint After Removal Reducing Amount In Controversy To Less Than The Jurisdictional Amount, Robert E. Sipes

Michigan Law Review

Plaintiff began his action for breach of contract in a state court of Indiana. On defendant's timely petition the suit was removed to the United States District Court. Plaintiff then amended his pleadings by filing particulars of his claim which reduced the amount recoverable below the jurisdictional amount. On a writ of certiorari it was held that the jurisdiction of the district court was not defeated by the amendment reducing the amount claimed to below the jurisdictional amount. Saint Paul Mercury Indemnity Co. v. Red Cab Co., 303 U.S. 283, 58 S. Ct. 586 (1938).

Labor Law -Associations - Suability Of Unincorporated Labor Union In Action At Law For Damages, Thomas E. Wilson

Michigan Law Review

Plaintiff sued defendant trade union, an unincorporated association, in its association name in a county court of North Carolina for damages arising out of its action in expelling him from the union, putting his name on a blacklist, and obtaining his discharge from employment. North Carolina had no enabling statute permitting suit against unincorporated associations in their association name. Service of process was obtained upon the local union's secretary-treasurer. Judgment for the plaintiff was taken by default, and plaintiff brought an action on the judgment in the District Court of the United States for the District of Columbia. The District …

Labor Law -- Anti-Injunction Acts -- Presence Or Absence Of Labor Dispute As Affecting "Jurisdiction", Michigan Law Review

Michigan Law Review

Plaintiff secured a temporary injunction against the picketing of her beauty shop by members of a union who sought an agreement as to the prices which plaintiff would charge her customers. None of plaintiff's employees were dissatisfied with the terms and conditions of employment. The trial court, on the basis of allegations in plaintiff's bill, affidavits and oral testimony, but without an answer being filed by defendant, held that the case did not "involve or grow out of a labor dispute" and awarded a temporary injunction. A Minnesota statute provided that no court of the state should have "jurisdiction" to …

Federal Courts - Procedure For Determining Jurisdiction Ab Facto - Burden Of Pleading And Proof, Richard B. Maxwell

Michigan Law Review

Since the beginning of our government it has been recognized that the federal courts are courts of limited jurisdiction. At an early date it was decided that because of this the plaintiff must state in his complaint the facts upon which the jurisdiction depended. The reason given in support of this rule, which is still the unquestioned law, is that there is no presumption of jurisdiction in courts which have only limited jurisdiction, but it is presumed not to exist unless its existence be shown upon the record. When the plaintiff sustained his burden of pleading the jurisdictional facts, his …

Judgments - Default Judgments Rendered Without Jurisdiction - Validating Effect Of A Subsequent General Appearance, Richard B. Maxwell

Michigan Law Review

The effect of a general appearance by the defendant following a default judgment rendered without jurisdiction over the person of the defendant has been again raised by the recent Wisconsin case of Schwantz v. Morris. In this case the original judgment was invalid for lack of jurisdiction over the defendants, but the Supreme Court of Wisconsin held, that by joining non-jurisdictional grounds with jurisdictional grounds in a motion to set the judgment aside, the defendants had waived any defects in or objections to the jurisdiction of the court and that this waiver related back to the time of the …

Bankruptcy - Corporate Reorganization - Effect Of Release Of Collateral Obligor On Dissenting Creditors, Edward D. Ransom

Michigan Law Review

The federal district court confirmed a plan of reorganization of debtor corporation, under section 77B of the Bankruptcy Act, which expressly released defendant from liability as guarantor of bonds of the corporation and provided for cancellation of the bonds and substitution of new certificates of stock. The plaintiff, a bondholder, made no objection when the plan was submitted to the court; objection by other bondholders was overruled. The plaintiff brought suit in municipal court on the defendant's guaranty. Defendant pleaded the confirmation of the plan by the district court as res adjudicata. The trial court denied the plea and entered …

Conflict Of Laws - Renvoi Theory - Conflicts Restatement, Royal E. Thompson

Michigan Law Review

The case of University of Chicago v. Dater, recently decided by the Michigan Supreme Court, contains interesting and unusual problems in the field of conflict of laws. The University of Chicago had agreed to loan money to a Michigan resident, to be secured by Chicago realty. The note and trust mortgage were sent by plaintiff to a Michigan bank, as agent, which procured the signatures of defendant and her husband, and sent the papers back to plaintiff's agent in Chicago. Some question as to title to the land arose, followed by further negotiations, and nearly a month after the …

Taxation - Jurisdiction Of A State To Tax Personal Incomes, Jack L. White

Michigan Law Review

There have been comparatively few decisions of the United States Supreme Court involving questions of the jurisdiction of a state to impose income taxes, so that each case that has been reported has called for an adjustment of the earlier statements of the law in that field. Such a case was recently decided. It is the purpose of this comment to consider the earlier cases in the light of that decision, and to determine what proportion of the income of a resident, and of a non-resident, a state may tax.

International Law -- Anti-Smuggling Bill -- Jurisdiction On The High Seas, James H. Roberton

Michigan Law Review

The control which a littoral state may exercise over the adjacent sea has never been the subject of complete agreement among the nations of the world. Inability to agree and resulting confusion have arisen in many instances from a failure to distinguish between a claim of control over a definite strip of adjacent water, often spoken of as "territorial waters," analogous to the control exercised on land and a claim that, for the well-being of the littoral state, control for limited and specific purposes may be extended beyond these territorial waters. The most obvious example of this latter type of …

Corporations - Foreign Corporations - Service Of Process Based Upon Solicitation, Donald H. Larmee

Michigan Law Review

The question of just when a foreign corporation is amenable to process for an in personam action has long troubled the courts. To one who is seeking a clear and applicable formula, the cases in this field offer but little aid because of the confusion created by the multitude of decisions upon the problem. The decisions of the United States Supreme Court itself are of no great assistance in deriving such a formula. Many attempts have been made by legal writers to define a working rule for this problem as a whole. However, the present writer will endeavor only to …

Administrative Law - Johnson Act - Jurisdiction Of Federal Courts Where State Review Procedure Prohibits Issue Of Supersedeas, William J. Isaacson

Michigan Law Review

Complainant power company attacked as confiscatory the decrease in rates ordered by the Public Service Commission of Montana. The company demanded an interloctory injunction pending a final decree. It appeared that there was on the statute book of Montana a statute prohibiting supersedeas pending judicial review in such cases. The district court granted the commission's motion to dismiss on the ground that a plain, speedy, and efficient remedy was available to the plaintiff in the state courts, and hence the requirements of the Johnson Act of May 14, 1934, were met. Therefore, so it was contended, federal jurisdiction was precluded. …