Transportation Law Commons^™

Automobiles - Statutory Liability Of Owner - Registered Titleholder Estopped To Deny Ownership, Michigan Law Review

Michigan Law Review

Plaintiffs, injured in New York by an automobile driven by defendant's minor son, sued under a New York statute which makes the owner of an automobile liable for damages for injuries resulting from negligence of its operator. The automobile was registered in Connecticut in defendant's name to avoid compliance with the Connecticut statute which requires proof of financial responsibility as a prerequisite of registration for minors over sixteen years of age. Held, defendant estopped to prove ownership of the automobile in his son. Shuba v. Greendonner, 271 N. Y. 189, 2 N. E. (2d) 536 (1936), reversing 245 …

Automobiles-Registration Of Title-Evidence Of Ownership

Michigan Law Review

In an action for damages caused by the son's negligent operation of an automobile registered in his father's name, the court affirmed a judgment against the father as an owner consenting to the use of his automobile, and held that evidence of the son's ownership was properly stricken from the record, since unregistered transfers were void. Enfield v. Butler, (Iowa 1935) 264 N. W. 546.

Constitutional Law-Due Process--Nonresident Motorist Statute

Michigan Law Review

Petition for writ of prohibition on the ground that the notice provided by the Arkansas nonresident motorist statute did not meet the requirements of the due process clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. The statute required that service of process be had on the secretary of state and that the plaintiff send notice of such service to the nonresident defendant at his last known address by registered letter, and required that the defendant's return receipt or the affidavit of the plaintiff of compliance with the statute be filed in the office of the clerk of court. Held, the statute is …

Carriers - Limitation Of Liability For Negligence -True Valuation Agreement

Michigan Law Review

Approximately one-seventh of a shipment of cherries in brine was lost owing to improper stowage. Award of damages was resisted on the ground that the bills of lading provided for adjustment of claims "on the basis of the invoice value of the entire shipment adding expenses necessarily incurred," and that because of favorable market conditions existing at destination the entire value of the sound cherries exceeded the invoice value. Held, the quoted clause was not a genuine limitation agreement, which is valid, but a "true valuation" clause, which, since it may wholly exonerate the carrier from liability for negligence, …

Utilization Of State Commissioners In The Administration Of The Federal Motor Carrier Act, Paul G. Kauper

Michigan Law Review

The problem of securing effective governmental regulation of economic interests that overlap state boundary lines, while at the same time curbing the growth of a centralized bureaucracy and preventing the disintegration of local government, becomes daily more disturbing. For this reason the passage of the Motor Carrier Act in the closing days of the 74th Congress and its approval by the President on August 9, 1935, was an event of singular importance for students of American governmental administration. Important as the legislation is in its substantive aspects, it is equally noteworthy because of its administrative provisions. The striking feature of …

Criminal Law And Procedure -Automobiles - Constitutional Law-Criminal Liability Of Owner Of Automobile

Michigan Law Review

The recent decision of the Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts in the case of Commonwealth v. Ober has brought to the fore a serious administrative problem arising out of the enforcement of traffic regulations. The problem is particularly acute in the illegal parking cases. Here it is usually impossible for the policeman to do more than tag the car, take down its registration number, and institute proceedings against the registered owner. The difficulty also often occurs in many other situations such as driving through red lights or stop streets where the offense is observed by a patrolman standing near by …

Cooperation Between The Interstate Commerce Commission And The State Commissions In Railroad Regulation, Martin L. Lindahl

Michigan Law Review

Cooperation between the Interstate Commerce Commission and the state commissions in railroad regulation has been developed to increase the effectiveness of public control under our dual regulatory system. The division of power between federal and state governments, based upon the traditional distinction between interstate and intrastate commerce, has led to a multitude of diverse and conflicting statutes and administrative orders applicable to the same set of transportation agencies. In large measure the problem of dual control has been solved by giving to the federal government a virtually complete occupancy of the fields of rate, finance, and service regulation of interstate …

Automobiles-- Insurance - Effect Of Delay In Giving Notice Of Accident

Michigan Law Review

Plaintiff, a boy of six, was struck by an automobile driven by the insured's brother who, after investigation, found no apparent injury and was so informed by the boy's mother. A week later the driver reported the affair to the insured. Two weeks after the accident the insured was notified of the plaintiff's claim. A week later, three weeks after the accident, the insurer was notified. The policy of liability insurance provided that "upon the occurrence of death or personal injuries or any accident covered by this policy, the assured shall as soon as practicable after learning thereof, give written …

Criminal Law And Procedure -Automobiles -Violation Of Traffic Regulations - Liability Of Registered Owner

Michigan Law Review

A traffic ordinance of the city of Boston provided, "No person shall allow, permit, or suffer any vehicle registered in his name to stand or park in any street . . . in violation of any of the rules and regulations of the Traffic Commission of the City of Boston." Under this ordinance defendant, the registered owner of a car, was convicted of overtime parking without any evidence that she herself had parked the vehicle. Defendant appealed. Held, under an ordinance such as this absence of criminal intent makes no difference and the registered owner is criminally liable. Commonwealth …

Federal Regulation Of Motor Carriers, Paul G. Kauper

Michigan Law Review

Regulations pertaining to public safety include such matters as requirements concerning drivers' licenses, safety equipment, clearance lights, maximum speed limits, and others of a similar nature. It has already been pointed out that the states in the absence of federal regulation can enforce safety regulations of this kind against interstate motor carriers. It has also been shown that federal regulation in this field is desired in order to relieve interstate motor carriers from diverse and conflicting state laws. The only limitation upon the right of the federal government to impose such regulations upon interstate motor carriers is the general requirement …

Federal Regulation Of Motor Carriers, Paul G. Kauper

Michigan Law Review

By it's policy of granting financial assistance to the States for roadbuilding purposes - a policy first inaugurated in 1916 - the federal government has made substantial contributions to the development of highway transportation in the United States. In a period of seventeen years ending with the fiscal year 1933, Congress had appropriated and allocated to the several States $1,290,000,000.00 for the purpose of building good roads. Since 1921 the use of federal aid funds has been limited to the improvement of a designated 7 per cent of each State's highway mileage. By May 31, 1933, work was completed on …

Carriers -Airplanes - Right To Limit Liability By Contract

Michigan Law Review

Defendant corporation conducted a regular airplane passenger service between Miami and Tampa, Florida. Deceased purchased an ordinary passenger ticket at the regular price and, in the course of the trip, was killed due to the negligence of defendant's pilot. There was a stipulation in the ticket which all passengers were required to sign that "the company's liability is limited to $10,000." Wife of deceased sued for the negligent death and recovered a judgment in excess of $10,000. Held, that defendant was a common carrier, and, therefore, could not compel a passenger to release it of its legal liability. Curtis-Wright …

Highways - Underpass As Highway Use

Michigan Law Review

The defendant was the owner of a gravel pit, separated from his railway shipping facilities by a highway, the fee of a portion of which was owned by the plaintiff. A bill was filed to restrain the construction under the highway of a passageway between the railroad and the gravel pit, permission for which construction had been granted by the state highway commissioner. The bill was dismissed, and on appeal, held, by an evenly-divided court, that the judgment be affirmed. Grand Rapids Gravel Co. v. William J. Breen Gravel Co., 262 Mich. 365, 247 N. W. 902 (1933).

Carriers - Statutory Limitation Of Liability - Degrees Of Care

Michigan Law Review

When the decedents attempted to drive from the petitioner's ferry boat, the chain holding the boat to the dock parted and the truck in which they were riding was precipitated into the river, drowning the occupants. In a proceeding in admiralty against the administrator of the deceased persons, under the statute limiting the liability of shipowners, the court held that the statute limiting liability applies only when the owner of the vessel is sought to be made liable for the fault of a servant or agent, and that the duty to provide a seaworthy vessel is a non-delegable one which …

Process In Actions Against Non-Resident Motorists, Maurice S. Culp

Michigan Law Review

Personal service on the defendant within the jurisdiction of a State is the conventional form of process in personal actions. But considerations of convenience and public need have resulted in recognizing an additional form of process in personal actions against nonresident motorists. Statutes in 35 States authorize the commencement of suit against the non-resident motorist by substituted service on a public official of the State where the cause of action arises; the official is made for this purpose the agent or attorney of the non-resident motorist.

It is proposed herein to discuss (1) the constitutional basis of such legislation, and …

Constitutional Law - Interstate Commerce - Motor Carrier Operating Within - Single State As A Link In Interstate Transportation, Paul G. Kauper

Michigan Law Review

The plaintiff was engaged in business as a common carrier of goods by motor vehicle. He transported goods between the docks of Los Angeles harbor and points in and around Los Angeles, but all the goods which he carried were originally shipped in from or were consigned to destinations outside the State. His operations, however, were independent of the operations of connecting carriers. The California Railroad Commission ordered the plaintiff to cease operations until he secured a certificate of public convenience and necessity. Held, on review, that the plaintiff was engaged in interstate commerce, and that the Commission's order …

State Taxation Of Interstate Motor Carriers, Paul G. Kauper

Michigan Law Review

Though the Supreme Court has never had occasion to express its views as to the gasoline tax in its relation to interstate motor carriers (see first instalment of this article), it has been confronted with a series of cases involving automobile registration taxes. Every State today imposes such taxes. A brief discussion of the theory and nature of such taxes will aid in understanding their legal consequences.

Constitutional Law - Interstate Commerce - State Regulation Of Motor Carriers - Highway Conservation, Paul G. Kauper

Michigan Law Review

In conformity with the Texas statute regulating contract carriers, the plaintiffs applied for permits to operate as contract carriers in interstate commerce. The Texas Railroad Commission denied the application on the grounds that the proposed use of the highways would unreasonably interfere with their use by the general public and would constitute an undue burden on said highways. Held, by a three-judge court, that the Commission was acting within its authority in refusing the application on these grounds, that such refusal was valid as to interstate motor carriers, and that evidence supported the Commission's findings, consequently the bill to …

Torts - Imputed Negligence - Passenger In Private Carrier For Hire

Michigan Law Review

The plaintiff hired Hilton, a private carrier, to drive her from Detroit to Ann Arbor. Hilton's car collided with a car driven by the defendant, both Hilton and the defendant being negligent. Held, that the plaintiff could recover, as the negligence of a private carrier for hire will not be imputed to a passenger riding in his conveyance. Three judges dissented; the four concurring judges refused to join Justice McDonald in his opinion expressly overruling the whole doctrine of Thorogood v. Bryan. Lachow v. Kimmich, 263 Mich. 1, 248 N. W. 531 (1933).

Torts - Principal And Agent - Liability For Negligent Driving

Michigan Law Review

Defendant company's salesman, driving his own car while selling defendant's washing-machines on a commission basis over a large territory, and with no regulation by the defendant except as to the terms of the contracts the salesman might make, negligently collided with plaintiff's car. Held, a salesman driving his own car, with no more supervision than existed here, is an independent contractor for whose negligence his employer is not liable. Stockwell v. Morris, (Wyo. 1933) 22 Pac. (2d) 189.

State Taxation Of Interstate Motor Carriers, Paul G. Kauper

Michigan Law Review

Although in point of years motor carrier transportation is in .ll. its infant stage, it has exhibited such prodigious growth as to take rank today as a business of huge proportions. In 1932 there were in the United States about 40,000 motor vehicles engaged in common carrier passenger service. Their operations for the year produced a gross revenue of $348,000,000, as compared with $612,000,000, produced by electric railway passenger operations, and $376,000,000, produced by steam railroad passenger operations.

State Regulation Of Interstate Motor Carriers, Paul G. Kauper

Michigan Law Review

After the decision in Buck v. Kuykendall, the question naturally arose whether a State could require an interstate carrier to obtain a certificate of public convenience and necessity in order to engage in intrastate business. The question is important because it is possible that interstate business cannot be conducted profitably on a given route without the benefit of supplemental earnings derived from intrastate business. No doubt was entertained by state commissions after the Buck case that they could still exercise plenary control over the intrastate operations of interstate carriers, and deny them permission to engage in intrastate business if …

The Emergency Railroad Transportation Act, 1933, Edwin C. Goddard

Michigan Law Review

From Munn v. Illinois to the Emergency Railroad Transportation Act of 1933 has been a long journey traveled by the public and the public utilities, notably the largest public utility, the railroads. In 1876 the very term "public utility" was unknown. The idea that the public could break in on laissez faire and regulate any business was to the persons regulated, and to their lawyers, odious. With them agreed Justices Field, Brewer, Peckham, and many another, who predicted that the public would not long tolerate such interference with business. But prophecy is hazardous, and these prophets were wrong.

Railroads - Power Of Interstate Commerce Commission To Order Extensions

Michigan Law Review

After due hearing upon a complaint filed by the Public Service Commission of Oregon asserting a failure to provide adequate transportation facilities to a large and unexploited area within that State, the Interstate Commerce Commission found that public necessity and convenience required the construction of a connecting line 185 miles in length. The Commission also found that the proposed extension, adding 1.2 per cent to the existing mileage of the Union Pacific system and costing approximately $10,000,000, would not seriously affect the ability of that organization adequately to serve the public; and that though the venture might not be profitable …

State Regulation Of Interstate Motor Carriers, Paul G. Kauper

Michigan Law Review

According to Article 1, section 8, of the Constitution, "The Congress shall have power . . . to regulate commerce . . . among the several States . . . . " Is this provision of the Constitution applicable to interstate motor transportation over a public highway, built, owned, and maintained by a State? The provincial view might have been put forward that because the State owns the highways, therefore it should have exclusive control with respect to the commerce passing over them. Whatever force might have been conceded such a view in the early history of our country, when …

Automobiles-Licenses-Who Is A Chauffeur

Michigan Law Review

In a suit to recover on an insurance policy, defendant sought to establish that the driver of plaintiff's automobile, who worked in plaintiff's plant and drove the delivery truck during the temporary absence of the usual driver, was not a licensed chauffeur as required by statute. Held, that a person who is not paid solely for driving a car but who does so merely as an incident to his regular employment does not come within the provision requiring those persons to obtain licenses who are " . . . known as a chauffeur, and employed for hire therefor . …

Automobiles - Guest - Contributory Negligence

Michigan Law Review

The plaintiff was a guest of the defendant in the latter's automobile during a night trip. With the knowledge and consent of the defendant the plaintiff went to sleep. While he was sleeping the defendant negligently wrecked the car and plaintiff was injured. Held, that the question as to whether or not such conduct constituted contributory negligence was one of fact for the jury. Nelson v. Nygren, (N. Y. 1932) 181 N. E. 52.

Insurance - Injuries Resulting From The Operation Of An Automobile

Michigan Law Review

The defendant insured the plaintiff against accidental injuries suffered exclusive of all other causes and only as the result of operating, driving, or riding in or on an automobile. The plaintiff was injured while sitting in the driver's seat of an automobile by a discharge from a gun which was being unloaded by a companion on a hunting trip, preliminary to placing it in the car. Held, the accident arose as a result of operating the automobile within the meaning of the insurance policy and the plaintiff is entitled to recover. Dorsey v. Fidelity Union Casualty Co., (Tex. …

Carriers - State Regulation Of Interstate Motor Carriers

Michigan Law Review

Chapter 236, Laws of Kansas, 1931, requires private motor carriers for hire in interstate commerce to secure a license from the public service commission, to secure a liability insurance policy, to keep daily records as prescribed by the commission, to pay a tax of five-tenths of a mill per gross ton for highway maintenance, and to be subjected to the supervision of the commission. Various regulations for making the highways safer are included. Plaintiff operated as a private motor carrier for hire in interstate commerce and sued to enjoin the enforcement of the act which it claimed was unconstitutional, for …

Carriers - Liability Of Interstate Connecting Carriers Governed By Filed Tariff Or Through Bill Of Lading

Michigan Law Review

Goods were shipped from Maine to El Paso, Texas, on a through bill of lading which provided that the carrier in possession of the property described "shall be liable as at common law for any loss thereof or damage thereto." The goods were destroyed by fire, without negligence, while in the possession of the Galveston Wharf Company. This company owned, in addition to certain piers, railroad trackage from these piers to connections with the delivering carrier and other railroads running out of Galveston. Its filed tariff provided that it should be liable only for negligence. Held, the Wharf Company's …