Bell County v. Lightfoot’s Empirical Analysis

Citation profile

1 district · 7 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 8 citing decisions cite the case generally; a passage count includes only decisions quoting that exact language verbatim.

1. “Nor do we think that the phrases `to construct' and `be constructed' are, in the purview of this act, to be confined to the bare act of building the sewer. Doubtless, to construct is, primarily, to form, to build together; and a power to construct may, in many cases, end when the work of building is done. But here the power to construct is the power to keep together as well as the power to put together, the power to maintain, protect and preserve, as well as the power to erect. The purpose or object of sewerage, upon a general plan for a city, is not temporary, and such a plan is for a long continued use and benefit. The works constructed for it must be afterward maintained, else the purpose fails.”

   1 later decision quote this exact passage · from the majority
   e.g. Bryant v. Board of Examiners

2. “The Attorney General objects that the statute under which the right to issue the bonds is claimed does not empower the county to issue bonds for the purpose of repairing bridges. We think it well settled that the authority to construct bridges for public purposes embraces the repair and maintenance of such structures.”

   1 later decision quote this exact passage · from the majority
   e.g. Bryant v. Board of Examiners

3. “purchasing or constructing bridges for public purposes.”

   1 later decision quote this exact passage · from the majority
   e.g. Bryant v. Board of Examiners