Smith v. Smith’s Empirical Analysis

Citation profile

4 federal appellate · 2 district · 18 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 24 citing decisions cite the case generally; a passage count includes only decisions quoting that exact language verbatim.

1. “"The legislature contemplated a relationship of succession, not only with the father, but also with the heirs of the father. We have no doubt, from the language used, that the legislature intended to give an illegitimate child the status of a general heir in the matter of the descent and distribution of the property of an intestate, and that the plaintiff is entitled to inherit from his father's father."”

   2 later decisions quote this exact passage · from the majority
   e.g. Rhode Island Hospital Trust Co. v. Hopkins · RHODE ISLAND HOSPITAL TRUST COMPANY v. Hopkins

2. “The circumstances of each case are, of course, different, and the gist of the decisions is that the extent of recognition necessary to meet the statutory requirements depends in some measure upon the circumstances of each case. Where frequent opportunities for such recognition are presented for a long period, more is required than where such opportunities are less in number or in a more limited time.”

   1 later decision quote this exact passage · from the majority
   e.g. Luff v. Hawkins