Kimura v. Kamalo’s Empirical Analysis

Citation profile

11 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 11 citing decisions cite the case generally; a passage count includes only decisions quoting that exact language verbatim.

1. “The interpretation of a statute is a question of law that is reviewed de novo. When construing a statute, our foremost obligation is to ascertain and give effect to the intention of the legislature, which is to be obtained primarily from the language contained in the statute itself. And we must read statutory language in the context of the entire statute and construe it in a manner consistent with its purpose. When there is doubt, doubleness of meaning, or indistinctiveness or uncertainty of an expression used in a statute, an ambiguity exists[.] In construing an ambiguous statute, the meaning of the ambiguous words may be sought by examining the context with which the ambiguous words, phrases, and sentences may be compared, in order to ascertain their true meaning. Moreover, the courts may resort to extrinsic aids in determining legislative intent. One avenue is the use of legislative history as an interpretive tool. [The appellate] court may also consider the reason and spirit of the law, and the cause which induced the legislature to enact it [ ] to discover its true meaning. Laws in pari materia, or upon the same subject matter, shall be construed with reference to each other. What is clear in one statute may be called upon in aid to explain what is doubtful in another.”

   1 later decision quote this exact passage · from the majority
   e.g. Fratinardo v. Employees' Retirement System of the State

2. “(4) To cause the property to be equitably divided between the parties according to their respective proportionate interests therein .... [[Image here]] (7) To exercise any other power pertaining to a circuit court in a civil action.”

   1 later decision quote this exact passage · from the majority
   e.g. Curtis v. Dorn

3. “Abuse is apparent when the discretion exercised clearly exceeds the bounds of reason or disregards rules or principles of law or practice to the substantial detriment of a party litigant.”

   1 later decision quote this exact passage · from the majority
   e.g. HAWAII MEDICAL SERVICE ASS'N v. Adams