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Articles 541 - 570 of 944

Full-Text Articles in Property Law and Real Estate

Deeds - Construction Where Grantees Take "Jointly'', Michigan Law Review Jun 1939

Deeds - Construction Where Grantees Take "Jointly'', Michigan Law Review

Michigan Law Review

Land was conveyed to plaintiffs' ancestor and defendant by deed. The granting clause read: "hereby convey to Isaac . . . and Alice . . . "; the habendum clause: "Said real estate being taken by said grantees jointly . . . to have and to hold . . . to the said grantees, their assigns, heirs, and devisees forever." The heirs of Isaac, who died intestate, filed a partition petition; Alice, claiming as surviving joint tenant, answered and also started an action to quiet title. A statute provided that "Conveyances to two or more in their own right create …


Mortgages - Limitation Of Actions - Deficiency Decree On Basis Of Covenant In Mortgage When Action On Note Barred, Donald M. Swope Jun 1939

Mortgages - Limitation Of Actions - Deficiency Decree On Basis Of Covenant In Mortgage When Action On Note Barred, Donald M. Swope

Michigan Law Review

Defendant executed and delivered to plaintiff a promissory note and a mortgage securing it. The mortgage contained a covenant to pay $10,000 (the principal amount of the note) "according to the terms of a certain promissory note bearing even date herewith." Upon foreclosure it was held, three judges dissenting, that the mortgagee was entitled to a deficiency decree notwithstanding action on the note was barred by the statute of limitations. Guardian Depositors Corporation of Detroit v. Savage, 287 Mich. 193,283 N. W. 26 (1938).


Constitutional Law - Special Assessments - Property Owner's Right To Hearing Under Due Process Clause - Legislative Determination Of Benefits, Richard S. Brawerman Jun 1939

Constitutional Law - Special Assessments - Property Owner's Right To Hearing Under Due Process Clause - Legislative Determination Of Benefits, Richard S. Brawerman

Michigan Law Review

The California legislature created the Los Angeles Flood Control District, empowered a board of supervisors to construct improvements and acquire property necessary or useful for carrying out the purposes of the act, and provided for the organization of drainage districts within the flood control district. An amendatory act provided that the board of supervisors might accept a transfer of "all, but not less than all," improvements of defined classes lying within the flood control district, whereupon the district should become liable for principal and interest of bonds afterward maturing which had been issued by any drainage district to cover the …


Landlord And Tenant - Liability Of Landlord To Lessee's Guest - "Nuisance", Michigan Law Review Jun 1939

Landlord And Tenant - Liability Of Landlord To Lessee's Guest - "Nuisance", Michigan Law Review

Michigan Law Review

Defendant leased the top two floors of a three-story building to a single tenant for use as an apartment house, the first floor being let to another tenant for business purposes. At the time of the original lease, there were facilities on the roof suitable for the laundering needs of prospective subtenants. There were also on the roof, in plain sight, three skylights, each being covered by glass panes resting on a casing which was raised twelve inches above the surface of the roof. While assisting a subtenant friend in hanging laundry, plaintiff fell through one of these skylights. He …


Constitutional Law - Mortgages - Moratoria On The Way Out?, Elbridge D. Phelps Jun 1939

Constitutional Law - Mortgages - Moratoria On The Way Out?, Elbridge D. Phelps

Michigan Law Review

As a general proposition, one might perhaps feel prone to quarrel with the statement that "history repeats itself," but there can be little doubt that it applies full well to legislation aimed at relieving hard-pressed debtors in times of financial crises. From our earliest American history, every economic "winter" has provoked a landslide of pro-debtor legislation. Nor have mortgage debtors been overlooked in this regard. The remedies suggested have been as varied and ingenious as human minds could concoct. A brief review of the past decisions indicates that when they could be said to impair the obligation of contract, such …


Taxation - Income Tax - Improvements Made By Lessee As Income To Lessor, Ralph E. Helper May 1939

Taxation - Income Tax - Improvements Made By Lessee As Income To Lessor, Ralph E. Helper

Michigan Law Review

The recent decision of the Supreme Court of the United States in M. E. Blatt Co. v. United States has fairly settled the conflict that has ranged for over twenty years between the Commissioner of Internal Revenue and the Board of Tax Appeals on one side, and the courts on the other. The commissioner's contention that improvements made by a lessee should be taxed as income to the lessor was denied, and by dictum the Court approved the reasoning of Judge Learned Hand in Hewitt Realty Co. v. Commissioner, wherein he said that the judicial concept of "income" did …


Adverse Possession - Possession Under Mistake As To True Boundary, S. R. Stroud May 1939

Adverse Possession - Possession Under Mistake As To True Boundary, S. R. Stroud

Michigan Law Review

Plaintiff and defendant's predecessor in title made a mistake in locating the boundary line between their lots. Laboring under this misapprehension, the plaintiff constructed a cottage which in fact was partially on land of defendant's predecessor in title. Defendant, having purchased the adjoining lot, caused a survey to be made and discovered that the cottage of the plaintiff and the wall constructed by plaintiff and defendant's predecessor encroached upon defendant's land. However, plaintiff remained in possession without admitting defendant's title and in 1937 sued to establish title by adverse possession. The lower court found that having been in possession for …


Trusts - Right Of Trustee's Wife To Dower In Property Held Subject To Oral Trust - Effect Of Subsequent Memorandum - Dower Where Trustee Has Both Legal And Equitable Interest, Michigan Law Review May 1939

Trusts - Right Of Trustee's Wife To Dower In Property Held Subject To Oral Trust - Effect Of Subsequent Memorandum - Dower Where Trustee Has Both Legal And Equitable Interest, Michigan Law Review

Michigan Law Review

Pursuant to an oral agreement and upon consideration furnished by them, A, B, and C procured land to be conveyed to A by a third party. Six days later A executed a self declaration of trust in the terms of the oral agreement; that he would operate it, and within a specified period sell the property and divide the proceeds between himself, B and C, as beneficiaries. A suit to remove A as trustee culminated in a judicial sale of the property to B and C. In this proceeding by B and C to quiet title, A …


Zoning - Construction Of Ordinance Restricting District To Residences - Rooming House As Business, S. R. Stroud Apr 1939

Zoning - Construction Of Ordinance Restricting District To Residences - Rooming House As Business, S. R. Stroud

Michigan Law Review

Plaintiff purchased the property in question on January 26, 1934. The property was subject to restrictive covenants, running with the land until January 26, 1930, which prohibited use for "any trade or business whatsoever or any boarding house." On August 18, 1922, a temporary zoning ordinance of the city of Long Beach was adopted to retain the advantages secured by the restrictive covenants. This was followed by a permanent zoning ordinance on July 8, 1930. Under the permanent zoning ordinance the property in question was included in "Residence A" district which was restricted to "a one family detached house for …


Torts - Liability Of Landlord For Injury To Property Of Tenant's Customer, Arthur P. Boynton Mar 1939

Torts - Liability Of Landlord For Injury To Property Of Tenant's Customer, Arthur P. Boynton

Michigan Law Review

A customer of the tenant sued the landlord for damage, to fur coats left with the tenant in the normal course of his business, from water, due to a leaky condition of the roof of the building which was in the control of landlord. Held, that it was the duty of the landlord to exercise reasonable care to keep the roof in reasonable repair not only as regards the safety of persons in the building but also as respects property lawfully there; that this duty was not performed and the damage resulted therefrom. Whelkin Coat Co. v. Long Beach …


Municipal Corporations - Liability To Abutting Property Owner For Negligence In Spraying Trees On Highway, Arthur A. Greene Jr. Mar 1939

Municipal Corporations - Liability To Abutting Property Owner For Negligence In Spraying Trees On Highway, Arthur A. Greene Jr.

Michigan Law Review

The defendant, a municipal corporation, used a poison spray on the trees on the highway under the authority and express duty of certain statutes that declared browntail moths and other insects a nuisance. This was done in such a manner that a part of the spray fell on the abutting land of the plaintiff, and caused the death of her poultry. The plaintiff instituted this action, relying on two counts, one alleging negligence and the other alleging an unreasonable use of the highway. Held, that the plaintiff could not recover on the first count because the abatement of this …


Automobiles - Registration Of Title And Transfer - Effect On Ownership, Gerald M. Stevens Mar 1939

Automobiles - Registration Of Title And Transfer - Effect On Ownership, Gerald M. Stevens

Michigan Law Review

Who owns this automobile? is a question of frequent interest both to the state and to its citizens. Identification of it and its owner may be a leading clue to the solution of crime; its owner must often be apprehended as the first step toward punishment of one of the considerable list of offenses peculiar to the operation of motor vehicles; it constitutes an important item of taxable property. The private citizen is interested in its ownership to identify the proper defendant in his tort action; it is an obvious source of satisfaction of his claim against a debtor; or …


Contracts - Third Party Beneficiary - Right Of Promisor To Set Off Claim Againt Promisee In A Suit By Beneficiary, Arthur A. Greene Jr. Mar 1939

Contracts - Third Party Beneficiary - Right Of Promisor To Set Off Claim Againt Promisee In A Suit By Beneficiary, Arthur A. Greene Jr.

Michigan Law Review

A and B mortgaged real estate to the plaintiff to secure their notes aggregating $9,000. Six months later A and B exchanged this property to the defendant for certain real estate owned by her. By the deed the defendant assumed the mortgage indebtedness owed to the plaintiff. As a further consideration for the exchange, A and B executed a note for $13,050 to the defendant. The plaintiff instituted this action against A and B, seeking to recover the balance, and by amended petition joined the defendant. The defendant claimed the right of set-off on the uncollected judgment against A …


Deeds - Covenant Of Warranty Limited By Exceptions In Another Covenant, Seward R. Stroud Jan 1939

Deeds - Covenant Of Warranty Limited By Exceptions In Another Covenant, Seward R. Stroud

Michigan Law Review

A mortgaged land to B and thereafter executed a second mortgage on the same land to C. In the second mortgage, A covenanted that "they are seized of good and perfect title . . . in fee simple and that the title so conveyed is clear, free and unincumbered except . . . (the Hixton Bank mortgage) [mortgage to B] and that they will forever warrant and defend the same . . . against all claims whatsoever." The first mortgage to B was foreclosed, and B purchased at the foreclosure sale. B sold the land to A, …


Fixtures - Uniform Conditional Sales Act - Interpretation Of The Word "Freehold", Robert E. Sipes Jan 1939

Fixtures - Uniform Conditional Sales Act - Interpretation Of The Word "Freehold", Robert E. Sipes

Michigan Law Review

Plaintiff installed elevators in an apartment house under construction. The elevators were covered by a conditional sale contract with the general contractor. Prior to the sale of the elevators the apartment house had been mortgaged. Upon the contractor's default in payment for the elevators, plaintiff asserted his right to remove the elevators as against the owner of the apartment and the mortgagee. Held, the elevators could be removed. Otis Elevator Co. v. Arey-Hauser Co., (D. C. Pa. 1938) 22 F. Supp. 4.


Bailments - Liability Of Parking Lot Owner For A Stolen Car, M. D. Blackwell Jan 1939

Bailments - Liability Of Parking Lot Owner For A Stolen Car, M. D. Blackwell

Michigan Law Review

Plaintiff parked her car at defendant's parking lot, paying the required fee and leaving the key in the car. The plaintiff testified that this was done at the attendant's request, and this testimony was not directly controverted. The attendant left the lot about midnight, and some time after that time the car was stolen. Held, that a bailment existed, and that the plaintiff had set up a prima facie case of liability on the part of the bailee for failing to exercise due care. Auto Ins. Co. v. Syndicate Parking Co., 58 Ohio App. 148, 16 N. E. …


Adverse Possession - Severance Of Minerals And Surface - Adverse Possession As Affecting Title To The Minerals, John M. Ulman Dec 1938

Adverse Possession - Severance Of Minerals And Surface - Adverse Possession As Affecting Title To The Minerals, John M. Ulman

Michigan Law Review

The land in question was set aside by the state for school purposes. For some time prior to 1881 one Bailey had been in possession. At that time he and his children, to whom he had deeded parts of the land, conveyed the mineral interests to a grantee from whom plaintiff claims. At the time of the conveyance the evidence was insufficient to show title by adverse possession in Bailey. Bailey and his grantees, from whom defendant claims, remained in possession until this action was brought. The limitation ceased running against the state by an act of the legislature at …


Adverse Possession - Requirements For Obtaining Title To A Cave By Adverse Possession, Donald M. Swope Dec 1938

Adverse Possession - Requirements For Obtaining Title To A Cave By Adverse Possession, Donald M. Swope

Michigan Law Review

Plaintiff and defendant were owners of adjoining properties. On defendant's land was located the only opening to a cavern, which a remote grantor of defendant discovered in 1893. Since that time, defendant and its immediate and remote grantors have improved the cave for visitors, and conducted persons through it upon the payment of an admission price. With wide publicity, this has continued for almost fifty years. Plaintiff first visited the cave in 1895, paying an admission fee for the privilege, and has visited it several times since. A part of said cave extended under real estate owned by plaintiff, but …


Liens - Extent To Which Common-Law Artisan's Lien Has Been Supplanted By Statute, Arthur P. Boynton Dec 1938

Liens - Extent To Which Common-Law Artisan's Lien Has Been Supplanted By Statute, Arthur P. Boynton

Michigan Law Review

An artisan's lien is the right of a bailee, who by his labor, skill, or material adds value to the chattel of another at the request of the owner, directly or impliedly, to retain possession of the chattel until the reasonable value of his services has been paid. The right to this lien, which is a specific lien, is of common-law origin, and in the absence of anything inconsistent in the contract has long been extended to all artisans. This common-law artisan's lien, however, has been supplanted by statute in some respect in all but five states. In the other …


Vendor And Purchaser - Right Of Vendor's Assignee To Specific Performance Where Contract Calls For Warranty Deed, Daniel Hodgman Nov 1938

Vendor And Purchaser - Right Of Vendor's Assignee To Specific Performance Where Contract Calls For Warranty Deed, Daniel Hodgman

Michigan Law Review

Vendor, a corporation, contracted to convey real estate to the vendee "by good and sufficient warranty deed, free of all incumbrances" upon payment of the purchase price by the vendee. The vendor assigned the contract to X as trustee and then went into receivership and liquidation. A new corporation was organized and the real estate subject to the contract was conveyed to it by the old corporation (vendor). The contract was then assigned to the new corporation by X, the trustee. The vendee being in default, the new corporation as assignee of the vendor sued the vendee for specific …


Mortgages - Foreclosure Sale - Possibility Of Setting Aside Sale Because Of Probable Higher Bid, James W. Mehaffy Jun 1938

Mortgages - Foreclosure Sale - Possibility Of Setting Aside Sale Because Of Probable Higher Bid, James W. Mehaffy

Michigan Law Review

A trust deed secured a loan of $85,000. The mortgage was foreclosed, the trustee authorized to bid at the sale, and an upset price of $12,500 fixed. A stranger made a higher bid than the trustee, and the property was sold to him for $40,100. The trustee now seeks a resale, offering evidence to show that the property could bring $50,000 to $60,000 if the trustee bought it, remodeled the building, and had time to find a suitable purchaser. There was no question of a deficiency decree. Held, that the lower court erred in refusing to confirm the original …


Waters And Watercourses - Diversion - Reciprocal Easements Implied In Grant, Anthony L. Dividio Jun 1938

Waters And Watercourses - Diversion - Reciprocal Easements Implied In Grant, Anthony L. Dividio

Michigan Law Review

The village of Canastota, New York, by deed acquired title to land in which originated a stream, with the right "to take, use and divert all said springs, streams and waters . . . or so much thereof as shall be necessary for the use of Canastota Water Works." Prior to this, the village had acquired from the lower riparian owners on the stream "all their title and interest, in and to the waters from the springs . . . the same to be forever, or so long as second party may desire, diverted . . . . " In …


Constitutional Law - Validity Of Mortgage Moratorium Act - Effect Of Lapse Of Time On "Emergency'' Legislation, Ralph Winkler Jun 1938

Constitutional Law - Validity Of Mortgage Moratorium Act - Effect Of Lapse Of Time On "Emergency'' Legislation, Ralph Winkler

Michigan Law Review

A mortgage moratorium law was enacted in Nebraska in 1933. It was re-enacted in 1935 and again in 1937. The act recited that an emergency existed and that the law was adopted to provide for this condition. The instant case involved the constitutionality of this law. A majority of the court held that the law violated the due process clause and the contracts clause of the state constitution. While the court admitted that "land values have not been restored to the prices they had attained prior to March 1, 1934," nevertheless, "It appears that there is no crisis now prevailing …


Covenants - Effect Of Change Of Conditions On Equitable Restrictions, Dan K. Cook Jun 1938

Covenants - Effect Of Change Of Conditions On Equitable Restrictions, Dan K. Cook

Michigan Law Review

Plaintiff was a lot owner in a residential district consisting of twenty-three blocks. Each lot in the district was subject to a restriction, imposed by the grantor, which limited the use of the lots to residence purposes. Subsequent to the imposition of this restriction, numerous oil and gas wells had been drilled in the territory surrounding the district, so that the lots in the district had depreciated in value approximately thirty-five to fifty per cent. By ordinance, the use zoning area which included the district had been changed from a residence use to an oil and gas use. At the …


Fixtures - Conditional Sales - Effect Of Recording Upon Subsequent Mortgagee Of The Realty, Michigan Law Review May 1938

Fixtures - Conditional Sales - Effect Of Recording Upon Subsequent Mortgagee Of The Realty, Michigan Law Review

Michigan Law Review

Two furnaces were sold and installed by plaintiff's assignor on a conditional sale contract that was duly recorded. The vendee then mortgaged the land on which the furnaces were annexed to the defendant. He defaulted on payments under the conditional sales contract and the plaintiff obtained a decree foreclosing the vendee's equity. Defendant filed a petition to have the decree vacated. Held, that as defendant was a subsequent mortgagee without notice the decree should be vacated. Twentieth Century Heating & Ventilating Co. v. Home Owners Loan Corp., 56 Ohio App. 188, 10 N. E. (2d) 229 (1937).


Highways - Title Which An Abutter May Obtain In A Public Street By Adverse Possession, Michigan Law Review May 1938

Highways - Title Which An Abutter May Obtain In A Public Street By Adverse Possession, Michigan Law Review

Michigan Law Review

By the plat, the lots of P and D in the unincorporated village of Crescent were separated by a street sixty-six feet wide. Actually the street was never opened and only the twenty feet abutting P's property had been used as a way of access to land held by P and D and others. The remaining two-thirds of the street had been fenced by D and used by him as his for thirty years. P brought a statutory action to vacate the streets of the village. D cross-petitioned to have title to the fenced area quieted in him. Held …


Waters And Watercourses - Navigable Waters - Dried-Up Lake - Reliction, Daniel Hodgman May 1938

Waters And Watercourses - Navigable Waters - Dried-Up Lake - Reliction, Daniel Hodgman

Michigan Law Review

A meandered lake, during periods of normal rainfall covering 3000 acres, due to years of drought completely dried up. Plaintiff, the owner of land abutting on the lake, sued the defendant, a stranger, who entered on the dry bed and cut hay, plaintiff claiming ownership of that part of the dry bed where the hay was cut as relicted land. Held, that the lake which was deemed navigable before it dried up was still a navigable lake although no water was in it; that as a navigable lake the ownership of the bed was in the state in trust …


Contracts - Acceptance By Mistake, Michigan Law Review Apr 1938

Contracts - Acceptance By Mistake, Michigan Law Review

Michigan Law Review

Plaintiff mailed to defendant's agent a written offer to purchase a piece of property. A check was mailed with the offer which was to be the initial payment for the land, if the offer was accepted. In the lower corner of the check was noted, "to be cashed when contract is signed." Defendant's agent acknowledged the check and affirmed the stipulation. He instructed his stenographer not to deposit the check, but she did so, inadvertently. Plaintiff received notice of the check's deposit before the agent attempted to return the credit. Plaintiff brought an action for specific performance. Held, that …


Contracts - Moral Obligation As Consideration - Promise To Pay For Benefits Previously Received, Michigan Law Review Apr 1938

Contracts - Moral Obligation As Consideration - Promise To Pay For Benefits Previously Received, Michigan Law Review

Michigan Law Review

Plaintiffs, assignees of an oil lease of land, after drilling a dry hole thereon, did not comply with the requirements of their agreement for further development within a stipulated time, in consequence of which there was a formal termination in accordance with the terms of the assignment. An extension of the lease, which the lessees obtained, was assigned to the defendants, who had knowledge of the foregoing circumstances and plaintiffs' claim of a property right in the dry hole. Defendants promised to pay plaintiffs for the use of the dry hole, but subsequently repudiated any liability on the promise. Held …


Equity - Contempt - Duration Of Imprisonment, Michigan Law Review Apr 1938

Equity - Contempt - Duration Of Imprisonment, Michigan Law Review

Michigan Law Review

Defendant, a trustee, refused to comply with a court order to turn over certain property to a receiver appointed by the court. She also refused to answer proper questions in a proceeding before a master. She was committed for contempt on January 5, 1934, to be held in jail till she complied with the court order and answered the questions. Her petition for release in July, 1937, was denied. Held, petition properly denied. Tegtmeyer v. Tegtmeyer, (Ill. App. 1937) 11 N. E. (2d) 657.