Standing on Thin Ice: How Nebraska’s Standing Doctrine Prevents the Majority of Surface Water Users from Obtaining Judicial Relief against Groundwater Users Interfering with Their Appropriations
Logan Hoyt
I. Introduction
II. Background ... A. Water Development in Nebraska ... B. Spear T Ranch, Inc. v. Knaub ... C. Introduction to Standing Doctrine
III. Standing in Water Law Cases ... A. Natural Resource Districts and Standing to Challenge Governmental Actions ... B. Surface Water Entities and Standing ... C. Contrast between Natural Resources District Standing Cases and Central ... D. Nebraska’s Standing Doctrine Prevents Most Surface Water Users from Obtaining Relief
IV. Is It Good Public Policy to Allow Surface Water Users to Pursue Judicial Relief? ... A. Arguments in Favor of Judicial Intervention ... B. Arguments against Allowing Surface Water Irrigators to Obtain Judicial Relief ... C. Policy Summary
V. If Surface Water Irrigators Should Be Able to Sue, What Changes Can Be Made? ... A. Legislative Intervention ... B. Judicial Intervention
VI. Conclusion
Inconsistent Jury Verdicts in Civil Actions
John C. McElhaney
I. Vicarious Liability of Co-Defendant … A. General Problem and Solution … B. Joint Tortfeasors as Defendants … C. Indemnity Cases … D. The Comparative Negligence Doctrine
II. Derivative Causes of Action … A. General Problem and Solution … B. Power to Grant a New Trial … C. Who May Complain of the Inconsistency
III. Separate Cases Consolidated for Trial … A. General Problem and Solution … B. The Right to a Jury Trial
IV. Other Related Fact Situations
V. General Comments on Inconsistencies … A. Reconciliation of Apparent Inconsistencies in the Verdicts … B. Validity of General Verdicts Based on Alternative Pleas … C. Verdicts Which Are Silent as to One Party Defendant
VI. Conclusion
The Use of Real Evidence
Donald P. Lay
I. Introduction
II. Objections to Use
III. Use by Defendant
IV. Illustrative Proof … A. Photographs … B. X-rays … C. Models, Charts, Diagrams, and Maps … D. Blackboards
V. Conclusion
Nebraska “Grade A” Dairy Regulation—A Study in Regulative Overlap
Deryl F. Hamann
I. Introduction … A. State Statutes Predating the 1957 “Grade A” Law … 1. 1951 Grade A Labeling Law … 2. General Milk Statutes … B. Municipal Ordinances
II. The New “Grade A” Law and Municipal Milk Control … A. Basic Policy Factors in Municipal Milk Control … B. Validity of Existing Municipal Ordinances … 1. Power of the Municipality to Legislate … 2. Pre-emption and Conflict—State versus Municipal Control … a. Occupation or Pre-emption of the Field … b. State-Municipal Conflict … 3. Interference with Liberty … C. Effect If Municipal Ordinances Are Generally Valid … 1. Confusion of Standards … 2. Inspection by Local Officials … D. The Reference Problem
III. “Grade A” and Other Nebraska Dairy Statutes
IV. Desirability of the USPHS Milk Ordinance and Code
V. Suggested Changes … A. Adoption of the USPHS Milk Ordinance and Code … B. State-Municipal Control … C. Grade A and Other Nebraska Statutes … 1. Foreign substances … 2. Nonfat solids in skim milk … 3. Bacteria … 4. Tuberculosis inspection
VI. Conclusion
Effective Utilization of a Questioned Document Examiner
Winsor C. Moore
I. Introduction
II. Document Examination as a Profession … A. Historical Development … B. Qualifications of the Document Expert
III. Development of a Document Case by the Attorney … A. General … B. Evidence of Invalidity … C. Classification of Questioned Documents … D. Capabilities of a Qualified Document Examiner … E. Care and Preservation of Disputed Document … F. Interviews with Prospective Witnesses … G. Acquisition of Standards … 1. General … 2. Collected Standards … 3. Requested Standards … H. Collateral Study
IV. Function of Document Examiner upon Referral and before Trial … A. Referral to Document Examiner … B. Types of Examination Made by Trained Examiner … C. Report of the Document Examiner … D. Preparation of Document Examiner for Trial … E. Pre-Trial Conference
V. Trial … A. General … B. Proof of Genuine Specimens … C. Establishing Qualifications of Document Examiner … D. Direct Testimony … E. Cross-Examination … F. Redirect Examination … G. Weight Given to Testimony of Examiner
VI. Post-Trial Conference … A. Critique … B. Fees
VII. Conclusion
The Family Automobile Policy
Curtis M. Elliott
I. Introduction
II. Eligibility Considerations
III. Persons Insured
IV. Non-owned Automobile Coverage
V. Trailers
VI. Stolen Automobiles
VII. The Future
Section 25-530—Venue or Jurisdiction?
R. H. Beatty
On October 26, 1957, the writer of this paper received a letter from the Chairman of the Judicial Council enclosing a copy of a communication sent to all the members of the Judicial Council suggesting the consideration by the Council of the advisability of seeking an amendment to Section 25-530 of the Nebraska Revised Statutes to provide for venue of actions against nonresident defendants growing out of damages caused by the operation of motor vehicles by such nonresidents of Nebraska while using the public highways of this state in the county in which the accident and damages occurred. The letter suggests that under present Nebraska laws, such a nonresident, when not physically present in Nebraska, can only be found in Lancaster County, Nebraska, where the Secretary of State of the State of Nebraska, his statutory agent, resides. The letter further states that several district judges in this state have held that such actions may be brought only in Lancaster County, Nebraska. A determination of the question as to whether an action against a nonresident of the State of Nebraska for damages caused by such nonresident in the operation of a motor vehicle upon the public streets or highways of Nebraska can be brought in any county other than Lancaster County, the residence of the statutory agent of the nonresident requires the examination and consideration of five sections of Nebraska statutes, to-wit: Sections 25-408, 25-409, 25-504, 25-521, and 25-530.
Determining the Fair Market Value of Oil and Gas Interests
C. E. Wright
I. Introduction … A. Estate Tax Code … B. Gift Tax Code … C. Regulations … D. Scope
II. Methods of Valuation … A. Where No Method Is Mentioned … B. Value from Sales of Same Property … C. Value from Other Property in the Area … D. Value from Analytical Appraisal … E. Estimates of Recoverable Reserves … F. Volumetric or Saturation Method … G. Decline Curve Method … H. Marketing … I. Pricing … J. Costs … K. Taxes … L. Present Value
III. Conclusion
Property Settlements and the Federal Gift Tax—A Survey
William E. Mooney Jr.
I. Antenuptial Agreements … A. History … B. 1954 Code … C. A Partial Solution
II. Support and Property Rights … A. History … B. 1954 Code
III. Support for Minor Children
IV. Separation and Divorce Agreements … A. History … B. 1954 Code … C. Legislative History of IRC § 2516 … D. Situations Where § 2516 Does Not Apply