Savage v. Bowen’s Empirical Analysis

Citation profile

29 state decisions

Most-quoted passages

The sentences later courts lift from this opinion, ranked by how many decisions quote each — the parts of the opinion doing the work. These counts are smaller than the citation total above because most of the 29 citing decisions cite the case generally; a passage count includes only decisions quoting that exact language verbatim.

1. ““The purpose of the statutory requirements with respect to the execution of wills was to throw every safeguard deemed necessary around a testator while in the performance of this important act, and to prevent the probate of a fraudulent and supposititious will instead of the real one. To effectually accomplish this, the statute must be strictly followed. It is, however, quite as important that these statutory requirements should not be supplemented by the courts with others that might tend to increase the difficulty of the transaction to such an extent as to practically destroy the right of the uninformed layman to dispose of his property by will.””

   2 later decisions quote this exact passage · from the majority
   e.g. Canody v. Hamblin · French v. Beville

2. ““The demurrer was properly overruled. The allegations of the bill show such an interest in the subject-matter as entitles the appellees to impeach the will. Controversies of this character usually arise between persons claiming as heirs at law on the one hand, and as devisees under the contested will on the other. George L. Savage, as heir of Ann C. Savage, would have had the right to impeach the will, and no reason is perceived why those claiming under and through him are not entitled to his rights in that respect.””

   1 later decision quote this exact passage · from the majority
   e.g. Ingersoll v. Gourley