Jurisdiction Commons^™

International Law-Jurisdiction-Application Of United States Seaman's Laws To Foreign Seamen On Foreign Vessels, Philip Smullin

Michigan Law Review

Libelants, eleven Greek seamen, signed a contract in the United States for a voyage from this country to Spain on a Greek vessel. They were discharged when the ship reached Barcelona. The shipowners made advance payments to these seamen, as they had in the past, and deducted such payments when settlements were made in the United States at the end of the voyage, a practice contrary to a federal statute. Prior to libelants' return to the United States from Spain, where they had been properly discharged, suit was instituted in their behalf for wages. Respondents paid into court a sum …

Constitutional Law-Federal Courts-Diversity Jurisdiction- District Of Columbia Citizens, John D. Mcleod S.Ed.

Michigan Law Review

The Act of Congress of April 20, 1940, provided that district courts should exercise original jurisdiction over actions "between citizens of different States, or citizens of the District of Columbia, the Territory of Hawaii, or Alaska, and any State or Territory . . . . " The committee report and the title indicate the purpose to extend to citizens of the District of Columbia and the territories the right to sue in federal district courts on grounds solely of diversity of citizenship. Although the committee reports indicated no constitutional difficulties, the majority of the lower federal courts which considered the …

Federal Courts-Civil Procedure-Availability To Plaintiff Of Change Of Venue Under Title 28 U.S.C.A. 1404(A), Richard B. Gushée S.Ed.

Michigan Law Review

The plaintiffs filed a complaint in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio in order to obtain service on the defendant. The plaintiff then filed a motion for an order to transfer the cause to the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania under Title 28 U.S.C.A. 1404(a) on the grounds that all the plaintiffs and witnesses resided in Pennsylvania, that it would be inconvenient and expensive to transport these witnesses to Ohio, and that the cause of action arose in Pennsylvania. Held, motion denied. Title 28 U.S.C.A. 1404(a) is not available …

Statutory Construction--Extra-Territorial Application Of Federal Statutes--Application Of Federal Tort Claims Act To Claims Arising In Foreign Areas Leased To The United States, Thomas L. Waterbury S.Ed.

Michigan Law Review

Decedent, an airlines employee, was killed in a plane crash at Harmon Field, Newfoundland, a base leased to the United States by Great Britain for ninety-nine years. The plaintiff, decedent's administratrix, brought suit in a district court against the United States, relying on the Federal Tort Claims Act as a waiver of federal immunity from suit. Judgment for the United States was reversed by the Court of Appeals. On certiorari to the Supreme Court, held, reversed. The claim arose in a foreign country and the FTCA specifically retains federal immunity from suit on such claims. United States v. Spelar …

Advisability Of Withholding Decision In Federal Court Pending State Court's Interpretation Of Unsettled State Law

Indiana Law Journal

Federal Jurisdiction Note

Propriety Of A Stay In Federal Court When Companion State Court Suit Runs Concurrently

Indiana Law Journal

Recent Cases: Federal Jurisdiction

International Law-Military Tribunals For The Trial Of War Criminals As International Courts, David S. Dewitt S.Ed.

Michigan Law Review

Petitioner, a German citizen confined in the American Zone of Occupied Germany in the custody of the United States Anny, petitioned the United States District Court, District of Columbia for a writ of habeas corpus. The respondents were the Secretary of Defense and others alleged to have directory control over the jailers in Germany. The petitioner had been convicted of war crimes by Military Tribunal IV at Nuremburg, Germany. This tribunal was established by order of General Clay, United States Military Governor and Zone Commander, pursuant to Control Council Law No. 10 which carried out the London Agreement and the …

Some Statutory Construction Problems And Approaches In Criminal Law, James C. Quarles

Vanderbilt Law Review

Statutory construction and interpretation, important in every field of law, is vital in a field containing a large number of legislative acts and a considerable body of appellate court decisions construing them. For this reason alone, statutory construction problems are particularly significant in criminal law. Many American jurisdictions punish no activity other than that expressly declared criminal by statute.' The Federal Government, which of course punishes no crimes except those defined by Congress, has contributed to this growth of the criminal law through the imposition of many duties and the proscription of various activities relating to the collection of revenue, …

Federal Procedure-Scope Of Power Of Federal Supreme Court To Review State Court Decisions [Terminiello V. City Of Chicago, U. S. Sup. Ct. 1949]

Washington and Lee Law Review

No abstract provided.

Federal Procedure-Validity Of Statute Extending Diversity Jurisdiction To Citizens Of District Of Columbia [National Mut. Ins. Co. V. Tidewater Transfer Co., Inc., U. S. Sup. Ct. 1949].

Washington and Lee Law Review

No abstract provided.

Courts--Process--Retroactive Operation Of Statutes Providing For Substituted Service, Robert H. Frick S.Ed.

Michigan Law Review

Plaintiff, a stockholder of a South Carolina corporation, commenced a derivative suit against former directors of the corporation by serving a summons and complaint on the Secretary of State of South Carolina. Plaintiff relied on a statute providing that nonresident directors of domestic corporations, by acceptance of election or appointment as directors, should be held to have appointed the Secretary of State their agent for service of process. The statute became effective in May, 1947. Defendants, residents of New Jersey and Maryland, had resigned as directors of the corporation in December, 1946. On appeal from a judgment vacating the service …

Conflict Of Laws-Model Execution Of Wills Statute-Law Governing Revocation Of Will, Edward W. Rothe S.Ed.

Michigan Law Review

Decedent's will, devising Iowa realty, was denied probate in Illinois, the state of domicile, on grounds that the will had been revoked by cancellation. The devisees offered the will for probate in Iowa, under whose law no revocation was effected. The heirs contested probate on grounds that the Illinois denial of probate was conclusive and binding on Iowa courts in view of §633.49, Iowa code, 1946: "A last will and testament executed without this state, in the mode prescribed by the law, either of the place where executed or the testator's domicile, shall be deemed to be legally executed, and …

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.

The Tidewater Case And Limited Jurisdiction Of Federal "Constitutional" Courts, Joe H. Foy

Vanderbilt Law Review

In the recent case of National Mutual Insurance Ca. v. Tidewater Transfer Co.,' the Act of April 20, 1940, allowing citizens of the District of Columbia and of the territories to sue and be sued in the district courts on the basis of diverse citizenship, was held constitutional insofar as it applies to citizens of the District of Columbia. The practical effect of the decision, in allowing Congress to remove a basic inequality among citizens of the United States, is perhaps commendable. However, there are broad theoretical implications in this holding, emphasized by sharp debate among the justices, which could …

Courts-Validity Of Contracts Restricting Venue In Actions Under The Federal Employers' Liability Act, John C. Walker S. Ed.

Michigan Law Review

Petitioner suffered injuries in the course of his duties as an employee of respondent railroad. Subsequently, respondent advanced money to petitioner and the latter agreed in writing that if his claim could not be settled he would sue only in the county or district where he resided at the time of the injury, or in the county or district where the injury was sustained. This agreement restricted petitioner's choice of venue to either a state or federal court sitting in Michigan. Ignoring the contract, petitioner sued in an Illinois court. Respondent then brought suit in the Michigan courts to enjoin …

Procedure-Contempt As Sanction To Enforce Delivery In Replevin, John A. Nordberg

Michigan Law Review

In a replevin action in a common pleas court the plaintiff, after filing a $200 bond for property later valued at $900, obtained possession of some household goods of the defendant under a fatally defective writ. On motion of the defendant the court dismissed the action and ordered the property returned. On appeal, plaintiff's action was again dismissed and he was directed to return defendant's goods. He ignored the order and was adjudged guilty of contempt. On appeal in the nature of certiorari from this conviction, held, reversed without prejudice. The order was void since the court had lost …

Book Reviews, Henry B. Witham, George K. Gardner, Malcolm Sharp, Ivan C. Rutledge, F. Eugene Reader, Murray Seasongood

Journal of Legal Education

No abstract provided.

Constitutional Law-Equal Protection-Foreign Corporations-Discriminatory Intangibles Tax, Robert P. Griffin S.Ed.

Michigan Law Review

An Ohio statute required foreign corporations doing business within the state to pay an ad valorem tax on accounts receivable which arose through outstate sales of goods shipped from warehouses within the state, even though the sales were consummated by an agent maintaining his office without the state. Such intangibles were declared by the Ohio statutory formula to have a situs within the state. At the same time, the accounts receivable of Ohio residents and domestic corporations which were derived from outstate sales by agents having their offices without the state were exempt, even though the goods were shipped from …

Place Of Trial Of Civil Cases, William Wirt Blume

Michigan Law Review

Places involved in a study of place of trial may be classified in various ways. The most general classification is: (1) Places within one sovereignty, (2) Places in different sovereignties. Where there is choice of place within one sovereignty, the only rational basis for making the choice is convenience-convenience of the parties, jurors, witnesses, and of the court itself. The same is true when the choice is between courts of different sovereignties, but without cooperation between the sovereignties rational choice may not be possible. The purpose of this discussion is to compare choice of place in England before 1800 with …

Appeal And Error-Eisler's Flight And The Case And Controversy Question, Albert B. Perlin, Jr. S.Ed.

Michigan Law Review

The United States Supreme Court granted certiorari to review a federal court conviction on a charge of contempt of Congress. Pending determination of the appeal, appellant was released on bail and, after argument on the merits but before a decision had been rendered, he wrongfully fled the country. Subsequently the Attorney General notified the Court that appellant had been apprehended in England at the request of the Secretary of State and that a court of competent jurisdiction there found that appellant was not guilty of an extraditable offense under English law. The Court of its own motion then considered the …

A Brief Survey Of The Jurisdiction And Practice Of The Courts Of The United States (5th Ed.), By Charles W. Bunn, Charles E. Clark

Indiana Law Journal

No abstract provided.

Procedure-Availability Of Writ Of Habeas Corpus To Attack Validity Of Order Made By Court Without Jurisdiction

Washington and Lee Law Review

No abstract provided.

Labor Law-Relationship Of Federal And State Authority Over Labor Relations, Ralph E. Hunt S.Ed.

Michigan Law Review

In three recent cases, the United States Supreme Court has been required to determine the impact of federal labor relations legislation on certain state enactments in this area. The importance of these decisions, concerning a problem which has caused difficulty since enactment of the National Labor Relations Act in 1935, is increased by their consideration of the significance of the amendments contained in the Labor-Management Relations Act of 1947.

(1.) The appellant La Crosse Co., which handled interstate telephone calls, had made a collective bargaining agreement with appellant A. F. of L. union, to continue from year to year. During …

Conflict Of Laws-Domicile Of Child Living With Mother, Charles E. Becraft S.Ed.

Michigan Law Review

Plaintiff and defendant, husband and wife, were domiciled in New York. Because of temporary unemployment, plaintiff took his wife and minor child to Connecticut. He later returned to New York and resided in the apartment the family had formerly occupied. The wife and child did not return to New York, and the court found that she had at all times intended to remain in Connecticut and establish a domicile there. Plaintiff at all times intended to make New York his permanent residence. When defendant would not return to New York, plaintiff brought action for separation in a New York court, …

Labor Law-Railway Labor Act-Effect Of Creation Of National Railroad Adjustment Board On Jurisdiction Of Courts, Frank L. Adamson S. Ed.

Michigan Law Review

The 1934 amendments to the Railway Labor Act (R.L.A.) created the National Railroad Adjustment Board (N.R.A.B.) to hear and decide disputes involving employee grievances and controversies over application and interpretation of agreements, as distinguished from disputes concerning making of collective agreements.

Bankruptcy-Jurisdiction Of Bankruptcy Court To Determine Stockholders' Vote Necessary To Approve Proposed Sale Of Corporation's Assets To Debtor In Reorganization, Bernard Goldstone S. Ed.

Michigan Law Review

Lessee railroad, which had leased and operated property of lessor railroad for many years, entered reorganization under section 77 of the Bankruptcy Act. Under the plan of reorganization promulgated by the Interstate Commerce Commission and approved by the bankruptcy court, lessor was given the alternative of selling its property to the reorganized railroad or having the lease disaffirmed by the debtor and its property returned. This proposal was submitted for acceptance by a majority vote of lessor's stockholders. Respondents, stockholders of lessor, sought an injunction in a state court of Georgia to restrain lessor's officers from certifying the acceptance in …

Assignments Of Accounts Receivable And The Conflict Of Laws Under The Bankruptcy Act, Eugene J.T. Flanagan

Vanderbilt Law Review

Under our system of government there is no constitutional requirement that the laws of the various states be uniform. On some points there are considerable differences between the laws of sister states. Such is the case with respect to the test for priority of right among successive assignees of an account receivable. This difference becomes of great importance when a multi-state transaction raises the question of the choice of the applicable law.

Fundamentally the problem is whether the jurisdiction in question follows the rule of Dearle v. Hall,' or the so-called American rule. The former establishes the order of precedence …

Conflict Of Laws-Enforcing Tax Laws Of Sister States, Bernard L. Trott S. Ed.

Michigan Law Review

In the recent case City of Detroit v. Proctor, the defendant, a resident of Detroit, was owner of personal property located there in the year 1939. The city levied a tax on this property, which tax became a debt under the laws of Michigan on the first day of April, 1939, and became due and · payable on the 15th of July, 1939. During the month of June, 1939, the defendant removed both his person and his property from the state of Michigan and has since resided elsewhere. The treasurer of the city of Detroit, who is empowered by …

Bankruptcy-Jurisdiction Of Bankruptcy Court To Determine Attorneys' Fees For Services Rendered In Chapter X Reorganization Proceedings, Bernard Goldstone S. Ed.

Michigan Law Review

A committee for preferred stockholders entered into an agreement with petitioners, wherein it was provided that certain shares of stock of the debtor corporation, placed in escrow with the committee by four preferred shareholders, would be delivered to petitioners as added compensation for their services in the reorganization proceeding. Pursuant to this agreement petitioners performed valuable services connected with the reorganization. The bankruptcy court allowed petitioners $37,500 from the debtor's estate, but held it had no jurisdiction to pass on the amount of the allowance which should be paid under the escrow agreement. Petitioners then sued in a state court …

Conflict Of Laws-Jurisdictional Basis For Awarding Custody Of Minor Child, Charles E. Becraft S. Ed.

Michigan Law Review

Plaintiff and his wife, domiciliaries of California, separated June 3, 1946. On Oct. 25, 1946, the wife took the minor child of the marriage to Nevada where she commenced proceedings to obtain a divorce. On Feb. 4, 1947, a final decree awarded her a divorce and custody of the child. She remarried and moved to Utah where she and the child have lived ever since. On Jan. 2, 1947, the plaintiff filed a petition in California asking for a divorce and custody of the child. On July 8, 1947, plaintiff applied for an order pendente lite to award him custody …