James v. Irvine’s Empirical Analysis

Citation profile

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

1. ““Restrictions in deeds will be construed strictly against the grantors and those claiming to enforce them, and all doubts resolved in favor of the free use of the property. 11 Cyc. pp. 1077, 1078. The principle governing restrictions of this character is not in doubt. The question is ably discussed in De Gray v. Club House Co., 50 N. J. Eq. 329 [ 24 Atl. 388 ]. The court, after a full discussion of the principle and the authorities, so clearly states the law (50 N. J. Eq. at page 340, 24 Atl. at page 392) that we quote it: “ ‘The law, deducible from these principles and the authorities applicable to this case, is that where there is a general scheme or plan, adopted and made public by the owner of a tract, for the development and improvement of the property, by which it is divided into streets, avenues, and lots, and contemplating a restriction as to the uses to which buildings or lots may be put, to be secured by a covenant embodying the restriction to be inserted in each deed to a purchaser, and it appears, by writings or by the circumstances, that such covenants are intended for the benefit of all the lands, and that each purchaser is to be subject to and to have the benefit thereof, and the covenants are actually inserted in all deeds for lots sold in pursuance of the plan, one purchaser and his assigns may enforce the covenant against any other purchaser and his assigns, if he has bought with knowledge of the scheme, and the covenant has been part of the subject-matter o”

   1 later decision quote this exact passage
   e.g. Williams v. Lawson

2. ““Restrictions in deeds will be construed strictly against the grantors and those claiming to enforce them, and all doubts resolved in favor of the free use of the property.” James v. Irvine, 141 Mich. 376 ( 104 N. W. 631 ). See, also, Walker v. Renner, 60 N. J. Eq. 493 ( 46 Atl. 626 ).”

   1 later decision quote this exact passage
   e.g. Casterton v. Plotkin