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University of Michigan Law School

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Articles 391 - 420 of 944

Full-Text Articles in Property Law and Real Estate

Powell: Real Property, Allan F. Smith Dec 1950

Powell: Real Property, Allan F. Smith

Michigan Law Review

A Review of REAL PROPERTY. Vol. 1. By Richard R. Powell.

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Real Property-Tax Sales-Title Of Purchaser Of Land Subject To Easement, John J. Gaskell S.Ed. Dec 1950

Real Property-Tax Sales-Title Of Purchaser Of Land Subject To Easement, John J. Gaskell S.Ed.

Michigan Law Review

In an action to enforce a lien for taxes on real property, the defendants counterclaimed, asking for a declaratory judgment as to whether a sale of real property for nonpayment of taxes extinguishes an easement with which the property is burdened. The easement was appurtenant to an adjoining parcel of land. Held, an easement appurtenant is not extinguished by sale of the servient tenement for nonpayment of taxes. District of Columbia v. Capital Mortgage & Title Co., Inc., (D.C. Cir. 1949) 84 F. Supp. 788.

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Equity-Injunction-Nonconformance Of Lustron House To Building Restrictions, Stephen A. Bryant S.Ed. Jun 1950

Equity-Injunction-Nonconformance Of Lustron House To Building Restrictions, Stephen A. Bryant S.Ed.

Michigan Law Review

Plaintiffs, as landowners in a restricted Detroit subdivision, sought to restrain the defendants from erecting a Lustron house in violation of restrictions limiting construction to full basement, one-family dwellings, costing a minimum of $6,000 and composed of brick, brick veneer, hollow tile or stucco. These restrictions were imposed on all lots in the subdivision by the original owner in 1925. The Lustron house, although costing approximately $7,500, had no basement and was constructed entirely of steel. After agreeing to remove it should the court enforce the restrictions, defendants erected the house. On appeal from a decree granting an injunction, held …

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Municipal Corporations-Zoning-Right Of Grantee To Act On Variance Issued To His Grantor, Herbert N. Weingarten Apr 1950

Municipal Corporations-Zoning-Right Of Grantee To Act On Variance Issued To His Grantor, Herbert N. Weingarten

Michigan Law Review

A zoning ordinance prohibited the erection of private garages within twenty feet of the street line. Because of the peculiar shape of the lot in question, a variance was granted to the then owner permitting the building of a garage closer to the street line. However, before the garage was built, the land was sold to the present owner who obtained a building permit and began construction. Plaintiffs, owners of the adjoining lot, objected to the granting of the permit and appealed to the zoning board of review which denied their appeal. On certiorari, held, present owner might act …

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Restitution-Improvements-Recovery Under Occupying Claimants Act, John L. Naylor, Jr. Apr 1950

Restitution-Improvements-Recovery Under Occupying Claimants Act, John L. Naylor, Jr.

Michigan Law Review

Plaintiff sought recovery for value of improvements claimed to have been made as an "occupying claimant" as defined by statute. He had dumped dirt and debris into the Missouri River for many years. This dirt and debris came both from his own excavations in the city and from excavations of other contractors who hired him to haul it away. The result was "made land" which plaintiff occupied for several years prior to ejectment by the defendant city. Verdict was directed for defendant, plaintiff appealing. Held, affirmed. "Made land" did not constitute valuable improvements within the meaning of the statute. …

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Torts-Attractive Nuisance-Ponds, Lloyd J. Tyler, Jr. Apr 1950

Torts-Attractive Nuisance-Ponds, Lloyd J. Tyler, Jr.

Michigan Law Review

Plaintiff's four-year-old daughter drowned in a pond on defendant's land. The pond was from six to ten feet deep, with extremely steep banks, and contained various forms of marine life and debris. The pond was useless and was eliminated by the defendant soon after the drowning. The defendant knew that at least twenty small children resided in the immediate area and the pond was visible and accessible to them. In a damage action for the death, held, the defendant was liable under the attractive nuisance doctrine. Saxton v. Plum Orchards, Inc., (La. 1949) 40 S. (2d) 791 (1949).

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Torts-Liability Of A Landlord For Injuries To Persons On The Premises-Covenant To Repair-Effect Of Repairs Made Under Such Covenant Subsequent To An Injury Caused By Defect Repaired, William M. Myers S.Ed. Mar 1950

Torts-Liability Of A Landlord For Injuries To Persons On The Premises-Covenant To Repair-Effect Of Repairs Made Under Such Covenant Subsequent To An Injury Caused By Defect Repaired, William M. Myers S.Ed.

Michigan Law Review

It is generally agreed that the tort liability of the holder of an estate in land is an incident of occupation or control. However, the courts are not agreed as to the degree of control which will sustain such liability. Neither are their holdings uniform as to the inferences which are to be drawn with respect thereto from the existence of an agreement by a landlord to make repairs or from the act of a landlord in repairing a defect in demised premises under such agreement, subsequent to an injury caused by the defect repaired.

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Landlord And Tenant-Interpretation Of Clause In A Lease Providing For Termination In Event Of Destruction Of Premises, Alan C. Boyd Mar 1950

Landlord And Tenant-Interpretation Of Clause In A Lease Providing For Termination In Event Of Destruction Of Premises, Alan C. Boyd

Michigan Law Review

The plaintiff leased property from the defendant for a term of years. The lease provided that the lessor should repair damage from fire and that "the tenancy shall not be terminated unless such repairs shall require more than ninety days." A fire occurred which damaged the property so badly that it could not be repaired within ninety days. The lessor took the position that the tenancy had automatically terminated with the occurrence of the fire. The lessee filed a bill for a declaratory judgment, claiming that under the terms of the lease he had the option either to terminate or …

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Trusts And Estates-Accumulations-Setting Aside Reserve For Depreciation On Trust Buildings, Hugh B. Muir Feb 1950

Trusts And Estates-Accumulations-Setting Aside Reserve For Depreciation On Trust Buildings, Hugh B. Muir

Michigan Law Review

Testator created a testamentary trust of several parcels of real property improved with apartment houses, authorizing the trustees to pay the net annual income therefrom to his sons in equal shares. The trust was to terminate when the youngest son attained the age of twenty-one, or, if he died before majority, when the second youngest son attained the age of thirty-seven, or sooner died. Remainder was to the testator's sons living at the termination date or their issue, per stirpes. Testator, while living, had maintained accounting records for the properties in such manner as to reflect an annual charge for …

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Finding Lost Goods-Ancient Indian Canoe, Ralph W. Aigler Jan 1950

Finding Lost Goods-Ancient Indian Canoe, Ralph W. Aigler

Michigan Law Review

As a result of a river's change in course, an old Indian canoe buried on certain land was exposed. While swimming in the river, plaintiffs discovered the canoe and told defendant about it. The latter excavated and removed it. The land had been owned by H, who had died many years ago, devising it to his wife for life and then in fee to his daughter. Plaintiffs, intending to exhibit the canoe, paid the wife and her sons ( who had been farming the land) a sum of money for it. In a replevin action, the daughter intervened. Held …

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Real Property-Adverse Possession-Adverseness Of Possession When Possessor Has Not Claimed A Fee, Hugh B. Muir Jan 1950

Real Property-Adverse Possession-Adverseness Of Possession When Possessor Has Not Claimed A Fee, Hugh B. Muir

Michigan Law Review

From 1924 until 1948 plaintiff and her family were in apparent, open and continuous possession of a portion of defendant's lot, without permission, and with the intent to exclude the defendant and all others from possession. Although plaintiff and her family constructed a lawn, gardens, steps and parking space on the premises, the court found that such use was "an incident to her occupancy of the house" on the adjoining lot, and was without any separate claim of title. In 1948, defendant entered and began excavating for the foundation of a house. Plaintiff sought an injunction and damages, resting her …

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Procedure-Contempt As Sanction To Enforce Delivery In Replevin, John A. Nordberg Jan 1950

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 …

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Municipal Corporations-Zoning-Abrogation Of Private Restrictive Covenants By Zoning Regulations, Robert Dilts Nov 1949

Municipal Corporations-Zoning-Abrogation Of Private Restrictive Covenants By Zoning Regulations, Robert Dilts

Michigan Law Review

A recent New Jersey decision raises a question of current importance in view of the acute housing shortages in many metropolitan areas. Can a municipality, acting under its power to establish zoning regulations, authorize the construction of multiple-family dwellings in a particular area and simultaneously abrogate private covenants which restrict the area to single-family dwellings?

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Streamlining Conveyancing Procedure, Paul E. Basye Jun 1949

Streamlining Conveyancing Procedure, Paul E. Basye

Michigan Law Review

Statutes of limitations have long occupied an essential and important place in every system of jurisprudence. They express a policy that is essential to social progress in a great variety of ways. Their effect is particularly noteworthy in the field of property law where they promote repose and give security to human affairs. "They stimulate to activity and punish negligence. While time is constantly destroying the evidence of rights, they supply its place by a presumption which renders proof unnecessary."

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Quasi-Contracts-Landlord And Tenant-Recovery For Overpayment Of Rent In Violation Of Statute, William P. Sutter Jun 1949

Quasi-Contracts-Landlord And Tenant-Recovery For Overpayment Of Rent In Violation Of Statute, William P. Sutter

Michigan Law Review

Plaintiff occupied a dwelling house from 1928 to 1945, paying $35 per month rent until September, 1941. In that month, defendant, his landlord, increased the rent to $75, which plaintiff paid until September, 1945. The property was registered with the Office of Price Administration at a maximum rental of $35, and this fact was known to plaintiff. Plaintiff's suit to recover the overpayment of $40 per month was dismissed. On appeal, held, affirmed. No statute specifically authorized restitution, and the illegality of the contract precludes restitution in absence of statute. Jones v. Chennault, (Mich. 1948) 35 N.W. (2d) …

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Quasi-Contracts-Rescission For Fraud-Defrauding Vendee's Right To Recover For Improvements, G. B. Myers Jun 1949

Quasi-Contracts-Rescission For Fraud-Defrauding Vendee's Right To Recover For Improvements, G. B. Myers

Michigan Law Review

Defendant fraudulently obtained a conveyance of land from plaintiff and while in possession of the tract made repairs and improvements to a building thereon. Upon discovery of the fraud plaintiff sued in equity to cancel the deeds involved, and tendered into court the consideration received from defendant. The lower court cancelled the deeds, returning the consideration to defendant, but refused to admit defendant's evidence of repairs and improvements on the ground that equity will not allow a claim for the value of improvements when made by a defrauding party. Held, reversed in part. The evidence was admissible, and an …

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Real Property - General Mineral Reservation In Deed - Lack Of Knowledge That Substance Is A Mineral, G. B. Myers Jun 1949

Real Property - General Mineral Reservation In Deed - Lack Of Knowledge That Substance Is A Mineral, G. B. Myers

Michigan Law Review

In 1892 plaintiff's predecessor in title contracted to convey certain land to defendant, subject to a reservation of "all coal and mineral deposits in and upon said lands," and in 1896 he executed a deed to defendant containing the same reservation. Plaintiff, in 1947, filed a bill to quiet title to bauxite deposits on the land. Held, bill dismissed. Bauxite, not being generally regarded as a mineral at the time of conveyance, was not intended to be within the operation of the mineral reservation. Carson v. Missouri Pac. R. Co., 212 Ark. 963, 209 S.W. (2d) 97 (1948).

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Streamlining Conveyancing Procedure, Paul E. Basye May 1949

Streamlining Conveyancing Procedure, Paul E. Basye

Michigan Law Review

The need for simplifying-even streamlining-conveyancing procedure has been all too well recognized for decades, but until the present decade relatively little progress toward a satisfactory system has been achieved. We have continued to labor under the handicaps of an inherited system which has become more cumbersome with each passing year. It is noteworthy, however, that several steps have been put into operation within recent years which have proved extremely fruitful and have, in certain limited areas, introduced thoroughgoing revisions in traditional practices. But in most states the far-reaching improvements necessary to an efficient, simple and fully comprehensive conveyancing system remain …

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Corporations-Restrictions On Holding Real Estate-Lnterpretation Of Michigan's Constitutional Restriction, W. M. Myers May 1949

Corporations-Restrictions On Holding Real Estate-Lnterpretation Of Michigan's Constitutional Restriction, W. M. Myers

Michigan Law Review

While it is now well settled that a corporation has the power to acquire and hold real estate, this power may be limited by the charter creating the corporation, by legislative enactments of a general nature, or by specific constitutional provisions. When such a limitation is imposed by constitution, a problem of construction arises in interpreting it in a workable way after the social conditions motivating it have changed or disappeared.

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Mortgages-Mortgagee's Rights Against Tenant Who Occupies Premises Under Subsequent Lease By Mortgagor, Charles E. Becraft S. Ed. May 1949

Mortgages-Mortgagee's Rights Against Tenant Who Occupies Premises Under Subsequent Lease By Mortgagor, Charles E. Becraft S. Ed.

Michigan Law Review

It is the purpose of this comment to discuss possible rights of the mortgagee or the purchaser at foreclosure sale, who stands in the place of the mortgagee, in dealing with a tenant of the mortgagor who holds under a lease subsequent to execution of the mortgage. Only the law of those states in which the lien theory of mortgages is in force will be considered.

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Real Property-Rights In Land-Construction Of Restrictive Covenants, Donald D. Davis May 1949

Real Property-Rights In Land-Construction Of Restrictive Covenants, Donald D. Davis

Michigan Law Review

Excepting a small area set aside for business purposes, the deeds conveying more than 1300 lots in the University Heights addition of the City of Albuquerque contained restrictive covenants, the part here involved providing "no building other than dwelling houses . . . to be erected . . . . [N]or shall any building erected on said lots be used . . . for any other purpose than as private dwelling places." Plaintiff, a lot owner in the addition who used his lot as a residence, sought to enjoin defendant's use of two of the restricted lots for parking automobiles …

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Specific Performance-Marketable Title To Realty-Compelling Vendor To Purchase Outstanding Interest, Robert Dilts May 1949

Specific Performance-Marketable Title To Realty-Compelling Vendor To Purchase Outstanding Interest, Robert Dilts

Michigan Law Review

Plaintiffs sued for specific performance of a contract for the sale of real estate. Their attorney had concluded that the abstract furnished by defendant indicated a possible outstanding undivided one-half interest in the property. Refusing to accept a conveyance unless the alleged defect was eliminated or protection offered against an attack on the title, plaintiffs sought a decree requiring defendant to clear title and convey according to the contract. There was no showing that defendant could obtain a conveyance of the alleged outstanding interest. Held, specific performance denied. Bartos v. Czerwinski, 323 Mich. 87, 34 N.W. (2d) 566 …

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Equity-Disinterment Of Dead Body Buried In Another's Land, Richard H. Conn Jan 1949

Equity-Disinterment Of Dead Body Buried In Another's Land, Richard H. Conn

Michigan Law Review

Complainant sought a decree in equity compelling defendant, administratrix of the estate of one Abram London, to remove the body of deceased from a grave on land belonging to complainant. Complainant had purchased the land in 1934, but through error of the cemetery officials it was resold to London in 1944. London's wife was buried in the adjacent plot. Defendant contended that the relief requested would transgress London's wish to be buried adjacent to his wife. Held, decree granted. The body of a person buried in a grave belonging to another is not properly buried, and the court will …

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Mortgages--"Depression Jurisprudence" --Remaining Effects In Statutory Law, John F. Buchman, Iii S.Ed. Dec 1948

Mortgages--"Depression Jurisprudence" --Remaining Effects In Statutory Law, John F. Buchman, Iii S.Ed.

Michigan Law Review

Periods of economic depression, to a far greater degree than more prosperous times, bring into sharp conflict the competing interests of debtor and creditor. This conflict becomes especially apparent in the field of mortgage law. The mortgagee-creditor wants to enforce payment of the debt according to the terms of the contract, taking advantage of the security for which he bargained. The mortgagor-debtor is anxious to protect, if possible, his own investment in the mortgaged property. Because of the vast number of cases which occurred during the 1930's in which it appeared unduly harsh and inequitable to accord mortgagees their traditional …

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Taxation-Liens-Nature Of Federal Estate Tax Lien, David D. Ring Dec 1948

Taxation-Liens-Nature Of Federal Estate Tax Lien, David D. Ring

Michigan Law Review

At the time of his death, decedent owned certain land in fee simple. His executrix, authorized by an order of the probate court, sold the land to herself as an individual. Subsequently, the United States began condemnation proceedings against the land, paying an award into court. Before distribution of this award was ordered, the executrix in her individual capacity and as ostensible owner was permitted in accordance with statute to withdraw a part of this award. The withdrawal was made without prejudice to her right to the remainder if it proved more than sufficient to satisfy the claims of other …

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Specific Performance-Marketable Title To Realty-Perfecting Title By Litigation As An Incident To Specific Performance, J. R. Mackenzie S.Ed. Nov 1948

Specific Performance-Marketable Title To Realty-Perfecting Title By Litigation As An Incident To Specific Performance, J. R. Mackenzie S.Ed.

Michigan Law Review

The normal action on land contracts is two-sided, vendor against purchaser or purchaser against vendor, to settle the rights of the parties on the basis of the condition of V's title at the time of the decree. This action is quite satisfactory where V and P agree as to the condition of the title, whether free and clear or not, but must we adhere to this pattern when there is a controversy between them concerning the title? To make the question concrete, suppose that V claims he has an unencumbered fee simple while P asserts there is a paramount …

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Eshheat-Bona Vacantia-Right Of State To Claim Unclaimed Royalty Payments Of A Corporation, N. S. Peterman Jun 1948

Eshheat-Bona Vacantia-Right Of State To Claim Unclaimed Royalty Payments Of A Corporation, N. S. Peterman

Michigan Law Review

The State of Arkansas brought suit against defendant to recover "various moneys, rents, royalties, credits, and other personal property, which had been unclaimed, forgotten, abandoned, or otherwise lost by-various persons," and which were allegedly in the possession of defendant. The state, not knowing who the previous owners were, submitted interrogatories to defendant which were designed to discover exactly what was in defendant's possession, and who had been the last known owners thereof. The state based its claim on the statutes and on the common law doctrine of bona vacantia. Defendant's demurrer was sustained. On appeal, held, affirmed. The state …

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Equity-Laches And Estoppel As Barring Equitable Relief In Protection Of An Easement, Chester Lloyd Jones S.Ed. Jun 1948

Equity-Laches And Estoppel As Barring Equitable Relief In Protection Of An Easement, Chester Lloyd Jones S.Ed.

Michigan Law Review

Grantors had conveyed to plaintiff a certain lot in a subdivision with a provision "leaving a street sixty feet wide between Block Five . . . and the . . . tract herein conveyed." A plat of the addition, showing the street, had also been filed. Subsequently, the grantors conveyed to the defendant the land theretofore comprising the street. Construction on that land was begun and seventy-two days later when the building was 40 per cent completed and represented an expenditure of $2,000, plaintiff filed a suit to restrain interference with his easement, serving notice thereof on the defendant the …

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Some Problems In Special Assessment District Obligations, Irvin Long May 1948

Some Problems In Special Assessment District Obligations, Irvin Long

Michigan Law Review

The question of the jurisdiction of a board or officer authorized to construct a local improvement and levy special assessments therefor has always been troublesome, and is particularly so when bonds or other obligations are issued in anticipation of the collection of such assessments. A vast amount of litigation has occurred in Michigan in recent years over drain district assessments, and bonds which such districts have issued. While this is of primary interest to Michigan lawyers and investors in public securities, many of the questions involved seem to be of such a general nature, so far as special assessment procedure …

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Contracts--Specific Performance-Defense Of Hardship Caused By Defendant's Improvements After Giving Option To Purchase, Robert E. Anstaett May 1948

Contracts--Specific Performance-Defense Of Hardship Caused By Defendant's Improvements After Giving Option To Purchase, Robert E. Anstaett

Michigan Law Review

In a lease of plaintiff's corner lot to defendant corporation in 1941, the latter granted plaintiff a five-year option to purchase adjacent lots owned by defendant for $35,000, which was then a fair price. In 1945 defendant's officers, overlooking the option agreement, authorized construction of a warehouse on the adjacent property. After defendant had expended about $20,000 in the construction, plaintiff exercised her option by giving notice to defendant. Upon defendant's refusal to convey, plaintiff sued for specific performance. The trial court dismissed the complaint. Held, reversed and remanded with instruction to decree specific performance upon condition that plaintiff …

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