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Michigan Law Review

Articles 181 - 210 of 285

Full-Text Articles in Transportation Law

Carriers-Liability For Loss Of Goods-Connecting Carriers In Foreign Commerce Apr 1931

Carriers-Liability For Loss Of Goods-Connecting Carriers In Foreign Commerce

Michigan Law Review

A box of furs, shipped from London, England, to New York City, U. S. A., over the line of the defendant navigation company, was delivered to the defendant trucking company at the order of the United States because the duties had not been paid. The trucking company delivered it to the defendant warehouse where it remained a week before being moved by the same trucking company to the United States Appraisal Stores. Here it was discovered that some of the furs had been stolen from the box. Held, the defendant navigation company was not liable as initial carrier under …


Carriers--Rates-Construction Of Hoch-Smith Resolution On Power Of Interstate Commerce Commission Over Railroad Rates Feb 1931

Carriers--Rates-Construction Of Hoch-Smith Resolution On Power Of Interstate Commerce Commission Over Railroad Rates

Michigan Law Review

California growers have for several years complained that railroad freight rates to eastern points on decidious fruits were unreasonably high, contributing to their suffering from the agricultural depression. In 1925, the Interstate Commerce Commission found these rates not reasonable nor unduly prejudicial, 100 I. C. C. 79. That year, Congress passed the Hoch-Smith Resolution, c. 120, 43 Stat. 801, 49 U. S. C. A. 55. This provided for investigation of rate structures by the Interstate Commerce Commission, and stated that in rate-making due regard should be paid to conditions in the various industries, the market-value levels of commodities, the natural …


Constitutional Law-Action For Personal Injury As Property Feb 1931

Constitutional Law-Action For Personal Injury As Property

Michigan Law Review

In an action for personal injury to the plaintiff while a guest in defendant's car, the trial court instructed the jury that plaintiff must prove the elements required by the Guest Act, i.e., a heedless and reckless disregard of the rights of others, and not merely the common law requirements for negligence. The Guest Act (Pub, Acts, 1927, c. 308) was void for failure of the governor to sign in the prescribed time. Validating acts were passed after the accident in question. Held, action for personal injury was a property interest and the validating acts, operating retrospectively, impaired plaintiff's …


Public Utilities-Power Of Commissoin To Change Rates Set In Franchise Granted By Legislature Feb 1931

Public Utilities-Power Of Commissoin To Change Rates Set In Franchise Granted By Legislature

Michigan Law Review

The Dry Dock Company was given franchises by the legislature to operate street railways in New York City, by Laws 1860, c. 512, and Laws 1866, cc. 866, 868, 883. These special laws fixed a five-cent maximum fare. Much later, the Public Service Commission Law (Cons. laws, c. 48) was enacted. Sec. 29 of this provided that, "unless the commission otherwise orders, no change shall be made in any rate * * * which shall have been filed and published by a common carrier * * * except after 30 days' notice to the commission * * * and all …


Statutes-"Reasonable Speed"-Interpretation Feb 1931

Statutes-"Reasonable Speed"-Interpretation

Michigan Law Review

In an action for damages arising out of an accident the instruction was given :that the intersection was a closely built-up portion of the city within the meaning of sec. 12003, 110 Ohio Laws p. 138 which provided, "A rate of speed greater than fifteen miles an hour in the business or closely built-up portions of a municipal corporation or more than twenty-five miles an hour in other portions thereof * * * shall be prima facie evidence of a rate of speed greater than is reasonable and proper." Upon each corner of the intersection there were buildings two or …


Carriers-Division Of Joint Rates Feb 1931

Carriers-Division Of Joint Rates

Michigan Law Review

The divisions here involved were those to be made in joint rates between points in southwestern territory and those in western trunk-line territory, or via western territory to and from eastern points. The line between western and southwestern territory passes through St. Louis and other Missouri and Illinois towns. The divisions of these joint rates between the carriers in these territories had been in existence for many years and were without uniform or rational basis. The Interstate Commerce Commission, investigating these divisions, found them more favor able to southwestern lines than present circumstances justified. Conditions in southwestern territory had become …


Injunction-Against Tort-Balance Of Convenience Feb 1931

Injunction-Against Tort-Balance Of Convenience

Michigan Law Review

The defendant railroad company held a lease for a right of way to and from the complainant's flour mill. In violation of their lease, and over the protest of the plaintiff, a side track was run from the branch track of the complainant to the track of the Litchfield Dairy Association and later extended to the plant of the defendant association, a competitor of the complainant. Held, the complainant was entitled to a decree restraining the defendants from moving cars for the defendant association over the complainant's side track. Affirmed. Stock and Sons v. Litchfield Coop. Shipper's Ass'n. et …


Carriers - Liability For Goods Lost By Express Company While Performing Service Contrary To The Filed Tariff Jan 1931

Carriers - Liability For Goods Lost By Express Company While Performing Service Contrary To The Filed Tariff

Michigan Law Review

The filed tariff of the defendant express company provided that packages containing money would be received only when delivered at the office of the express company. It was the custom of the defendant. contrary to the tariff provisions, to send a special truck to the office of the shippers when notified that money was to be transported. A shipment oi the plaintiff was thus called for, and the money lost when the truck was held up on the way to the express office. Defendant contended that the service was in violation of the tariff, and that no recovery could be …


Pleading-Counterclaim-Shipper's Counterclaim In Carrier's Action For Freight No Violation Of Interstate Commerce Act Dec 1930

Pleading-Counterclaim-Shipper's Counterclaim In Carrier's Action For Freight No Violation Of Interstate Commerce Act

Michigan Law Review

See note, supra, on Chicago and N. W. Ry. v. Lindell, 281 U. S. 14, 50 Sup. Ct. 2co, 74 L. ed. (Adv, Op. 272), at page 245 of this number.


Carriers-Counterclaim-Shipper's Counterclaim In Carrier's Action For Freight, As Illegal Discrimination Dec 1930

Carriers-Counterclaim-Shipper's Counterclaim In Carrier's Action For Freight, As Illegal Discrimination

Michigan Law Review

To the railroad's action to recover unpaid freight, the shipper set up as a counterclaim his loss (an amount greater than the freight) from damage to that shipment due to the plaintiff's negligence. The United States district court for the southern district of California held for the defendant, that this might be done. Upon appeal, the circuit court of appeals for the ninth circuit certified the question: Where a carrier brings an action at law to recover freight charges-in a district where state law provides that if a defendant fails to set up a counterclaim arising out of the transaction …


Corporations-Stock Conversion-Obligation Of Interstate Carrier Nov 1930

Corporations-Stock Conversion-Obligation Of Interstate Carrier

Michigan Law Review

Plaintiff, holding preferred stock of the defendant railroad convertible into common stock, sought to exercise his right of conversion, and on the railroad's failure to comply, filed the present suit for damages. The answer set up as an affirmative defense that the defendant, an interstate common carrier, is subject to the jurisdiction of the Interstate Commerce Commission; by the 1920 amendment to the Interstate Commerce Act, 49 U. S. C. A. sec. 20a, it was made unlawful for any carrier to issue stock except by the Commission's sanction; on Feb. 7, 1927, for the first time demand was made for …


Aerial Navigation Nov 1930

Aerial Navigation

Michigan Law Review

With the rapid increase of the use of the air by airplanes and other craft, courts are bound to be called upon frequently to determine the rights and liabilities of the owners and operators of aircraft with reference to other persons in various positions. It is probable that, as was found to be true in the cases of other new devices, the principles of the common law are sufficiently elastic and adaptable to determine the settlement of most, if not all, of the controversies.


Recent Important Decisions Feb 1929

Recent Important Decisions

Michigan Law Review

A collection of recent important court decisions.


Vicarious Liability And The Family Automobile, Norman D. Lattin Jun 1928

Vicarious Liability And The Family Automobile, Norman D. Lattin

Michigan Law Review

The advent of the automobile into the family life of the present age brought with it a doctrine which has been the troublesome source of much comment in the adjudicated cases and legal literature generally. Were it not for the fact that the battle still wages with much intensity, with very little outward evidence of abatement, it would be presumptuous to add to the already voluminous supply of legal material concerning the law of the family automobile, commonly termed the "family purpose" or "family car" doctrine. If further justification were needed, the problems arising from air navigation, which threatens to …


Interstate Ferries And The Commerce Clause, C. M. Kneier Apr 1928

Interstate Ferries And The Commerce Clause, C. M. Kneier

Michigan Law Review

The Constitution of the United States confers upon Congress the power to regulate commerce among the several states; the transportation of passengers and freight across a navigable river from one state to another by ferryboat, however short the distance traversed, or frequent the trips made, is interstate commerce. It is the purpose of this study to point out what action Congress has taken under the power thus conferred upon it relative to interstate ferries and to determine the relative spheres of authority of the states and of the National Government over this subject.


Recent Important Decisions Apr 1928

Recent Important Decisions

Michigan Law Review

A collection of recent important court decisions.


Carriers-Statute Of Limitations For Bringing Suit For Injury To Goods Dec 1927

Carriers-Statute Of Limitations For Bringing Suit For Injury To Goods

Michigan Law Review

A recent case decided by the Supreme Court of the United States suggests the query-ls there a federal statute of limitations for bringing suit for injury to goods in an interstate shipment? The answer depends on the interpretation of the Cummins Amendment of March 4, 1915 and the Transportation Act of 1920. The relevant and germane provision of these acts as to the time limit for commencing suit for injury to goods on an interstate carriage is "That it shall be unlawful for any such common carrier to provide by rule, contract, or regulation a shorter period for giving notice …


Recent Important Decisions Dec 1927

Recent Important Decisions

Michigan Law Review

A collection of recent important court decisions.


Activity Subsequent To Interstate Commerce, Elcanon Isaacs May 1927

Activity Subsequent To Interstate Commerce, Elcanon Isaacs

Michigan Law Review

With the commerce clause as the basis of distinction, courts have divided business into two classes, that which is interstate and that which is not. The first is considered to involve transportation across state boundary lines; the second is referred to business in which the crossing of state lines is not a factor. It must appear, however, in a consideration of the second class, that activity which is local because it has never involved movement requires a different approach from activity which is local because transportation has ended. The former must be analyzed for its intrinsic nature; it may even …


Passenger Tickets As Contracts, Edwin C. Goddard Nov 1926

Passenger Tickets As Contracts, Edwin C. Goddard

Michigan Law Review

The most important right of the common carrier of passengers is his right to compensation. He carries for hire. This compensation he ordinarily collects by selling to the prospective passenger a ticket. Of these tickets there are many varieties, from the simple rectangular bit of cardboard, with the printed statement that it is good for one ride from X to Y, to the long coupon ticket, with elaborate provisions in fine print, providing for the passenger knows not what. What is the legal character of this ticket?


Constitutional Law-Compulsory Indemnity For Persons Injured By Automobiles Apr 1926

Constitutional Law-Compulsory Indemnity For Persons Injured By Automobiles

Michigan Law Review

The problem of protecting the public from injuries arising from the use of automobiles upon public highways has recently been subjected to a form of legislative solution that is distinctly different from the earlier attempts. The devices first employed were measures which dealt with the licensing of cars and with the regulation of their use. Later, when the need for giving financial substance to the tort liabilities of motorists appeared, steps were taken in the direction of fixing vicarious liabilities upon the owners of automobiles. This was done to some extent by the courts which announced the "family purpose doctrine," …


Carriers-Can Carrier Who Delivers To Improper Person Replevy From The Vendee Of That Person? Mar 1926

Carriers-Can Carrier Who Delivers To Improper Person Replevy From The Vendee Of That Person?

Michigan Law Review

When a carrier delivers goods to an improper person, a nice question arises as to whether the carrier may recover the goods from a bona fide purchaser who bought from the one to whom the carrier delivered. Let us consider first a comparatively simple case.


Carriers-Limit Of Liability In Bill Of Lading Where Carrier Converts Shipment Dec 1924

Carriers-Limit Of Liability In Bill Of Lading Where Carrier Converts Shipment

Michigan Law Review

The Carmack and Cummins Amendments to the act of 1887 have wrought some startling changes in the law applicable to interstate shipments. But the end is not yet. The provision in those amendments which makes the initial carrier liable on a bona fide contract, to the amount fixed in the published tariff, "for loss, damage or injury to such property, caused by it or by any common carrier * * * to which such property may be delivered or over whose line or lines such property may pass", provokes the question as to how broadly that provision is going to …


Recent Important Decisions Nov 1924

Recent Important Decisions

Michigan Law Review

A collection of recent important court decisions.


To Contribute Or Not To Contribute?--A Basic Inconsistency In The Law Of Negligence Jun 1924

To Contribute Or Not To Contribute?--A Basic Inconsistency In The Law Of Negligence

Michigan Law Review

X accepts an invitation to ride with his friend A, in the latter's coupe. B has a party of friends in his new limousine. Both drivers are careless; the cars collide; and X is injured. X brings suit against B, and the latter has A brought into court as a defendant, a proceeding permitted under the provisions of the Wisconsin code of civil procedure. B claims the right of contribution against A, in the event that X is successful in his suit, and also asks affirmative relief against A for the damage done to his limousine. A counters with a …


Criminal Assault Through Negligence--Bonding Automobile Drivers May 1924

Criminal Assault Through Negligence--Bonding Automobile Drivers

Michigan Law Review

The Supreme Court has recently declared constitutional and valid the New York legislation requiring taxi-cab drivers to file with the state a surety bond or an insurance policy conditioned for the payment of judgments against the driver for personal injuries caused by the operation or the defective construction of his vehicle. Packard v. Banton (Feb., 1924) Adv. Ops. No. 126. The amount of the bond or policy required is only $2,500, though with a continuing liability for that amount during the period of the bond. It appears from the court's opinion that the insurance companies charged a premium of $900 …


Constitutional Law-Interstate Commerce-The Transportation Act Of 1920 Apr 1924

Constitutional Law-Interstate Commerce-The Transportation Act Of 1920

Michigan Law Review

Contemporaneous comments on Supreme Court decisions involving the "due process" clause too often resolve themselves into mere "debates" as to the wisdom of the particular legislation in question, either from the standpoint of the ultimate object to be accomplished or the methods adopted for its accomplishment. Strongest adherents of our unique system of judicial review must admit that, after all, the duty of the Supreme Court consists primarily in determining whether or not the legislation before it is valid, not whether it is, or is not, a politic enactment.


Some Constitutional Phases Of The Cummins Railroad Consolidation Bill Apr 1924

Some Constitutional Phases Of The Cummins Railroad Consolidation Bill

Michigan Law Review

The Supreme Court in four decisions has gone far in sustaining Congress and the Interstate Commerce Commission in regulating interstate commerce: (1) in sustaining the Adamson Act of 1916, establishing an eight-hour day for interstate railroads. Wilson v. New, 243 U. S. 332 (1917); Ft. Smith, etc. R.R. 71. Mills, 253 U.S. 306 (1920); (2) in sustaining the "recapture" clause in the Transportation Act of 1920 impounding surplus earnings of prosperous railroads, Dayton-Goose Creek Ry. v. United States, decided January 7, 1924; (3) in sustaining the order of the Commission raising intrastate railroad fares which were so …


Shipping Act Of 1916: The Effect Of Section 15 On The Sherman Anti-Trust Law, Claude A. Thompson Dec 1923

Shipping Act Of 1916: The Effect Of Section 15 On The Sherman Anti-Trust Law, Claude A. Thompson

Michigan Law Review

Does the approval of a conference agreement by the Shipping Board under section 15 of the Shipping Act of 1916 legalize an agreement, which, but for such approval, would be in violation of the Sherman Anti-Trust Law?


Fraudulent Bills Of Lading, Merton L. Ferson Apr 1923

Fraudulent Bills Of Lading, Merton L. Ferson

Michigan Law Review

Station agents, without receiving goods, have frequently signed bills of lading purporting to bind their company. When a bill of lading thus issued has been transferred to an innocent purchaser for value, the question arises whether such person may recover against the carrier company. The question is obviously one of the .agent's ability to bind his employer.