Williams v. Crabb’s Empirical Analysis

Citation profile

9 federal appellate · 4 district ·

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

1. ““It is contended that he [plaintiff] is a tenant in common with the others, and ought not to bo permitted to sue in equity without mailing his co-tenants parties to the suit This objection docs not affect the jurisdiction, but addresses itself to the policy of the court. Courts of equity require that all the parties concerned in interest shall be brought before them, that the matter in controversy may be finally settled. This equitable rule, however, is framed by tlie court itself, and is subject to its discretion. It is not, like the description of parties, an inflexible rule, a failure to observe which turns the parly out of court because it has no jurisdiction over his cause, but, being introduced by the court itself for the purpose of justice, is susceptible of modification for the promotion of these purposes. In this case the persons who are alleged to be tenants in common with the plaintiffs appear to be entitled to a fourth part, not of the whole contract but a speeinllv described portion of it, which may or may not interfere with the part occupied by the defendant. Neither the bill nor the answer alleges such an interference, and the court ought not, without such allegation, to presume it.””

   2 later decisions quote this exact passage · from the majority
   e.g. North Carolina Mining Co. v. Westfeldt · Mathieson v. Craven

2. ““Every case must be governed by its own circumstances; and as these are as diversified as tbe names of tbe parties, tbe court must exercise a sound discretion on tbe'subject Whilst parties should not be subjected to expense and inconvenience, in litigating matters in which they have no interest, multiplicity of suits should be avoided, by uniting in one bill all who have'an interest in the principal matter in controversy, though the interest may have arisen under distinct contracts.””

   1 later decision quote this exact passage · from the majority
   e.g. Slater v. Ruggles

3. ““It is not indispensable that all parties should have an interest in all the matters contained in the suit. It will he sufficient if each party has an interest in some material matters in the suit, and they are connected with others.””

   1 later decision quote this exact passage · from the majority
   e.g. Field v. Western Life Indemnity Co.