Richards v. Mackall’s Empirical Analysis

Citation profile

35 federal appellate · 11 district · 19 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 139 citing decisions cite the case generally; a passage count includes only decisions quoting that exact language verbatim.

1. ““We find nothing whatever in (lie record to excuse the failure of the appellee to institute legal proceedings, in due time, to have the sale set aside. He knew that the appellant relied upon the sale, and upon the faith of it expended large sums. He knew that the premises here in dispute were in fact levied on for his debts, and were intended to he sold in satisfaction of ihose debts. But after the property has largely increased in value, and after sleeping upon his rights for nearly twelve years, with information, during the whole oí that period, of every fact now relied upon by him, appellee asks the aid of a court of equity to set aside the sale and conveyance, and adjudge him to be the owner of the property; and, chiefly, because of a mistake of the oflieer in not so describing the premises in the advertisement of sale and in the conveyance as to properly identify them. In our judgment, he is not in a ftosition to claim the interference of a court of equity.””

   1 later decision quote this exact passage · from the majority
   e.g. Bower v. Stein

2. ““To let in the defense that the claim is stale, and that the bill cannot, therefore, be supported, it is not necessary that a foundation shall be laid by any averment in the answer of the defendants. If the case, as it appears at the hearing, is liable to the objection by reason of the laches of the complainants, the court will, upon that ground, be passive, and refuse relief. Every case is governed chiefly by its own circumstances; some times the analogy of the Statute of Limitations is applied; sometimes a longer period than that prescribed by the statute is required; in some cases a shorter time is sufficient; and sometimes the rule is applied where there is no statutable bar. It is competent for the court to apply the inherent principles of its own system of jurisprudence, and to decide accordingly.””

   1 later decision quote this exact passage · from the majority
   e.g. Horse Creek Conservation District v. Lincoln Land Co.

3. ““Should set forth in this bill specifically what were the impediments to an earlier prosecution of his claim, how he' came to be so long ignorant of his rights, and the means used by the respondent to fraudulently keep him in ignorance, and how and when he first came to a knowledge of the matters alleged in his bill; otherwise, the chancellor may justly refuse to consider his case, on his own showing, without inquiring whether there is a demurrer or formal plea of the statute of limitation contained in the answer.””

   1 later decision quote this exact passage · from the majority
   e.g. Van Vleet v. Sledge