Hammond v. Hammond’s Empirical Analysis

Citation profile

6 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 6 citing decisions cite the case generally; a passage count includes only decisions quoting that exact language verbatim.

1. “A contract must be construed to effectuate the intent of the parties, which is determined from the language used interpreted in the light of the situation of the parties and the circumstances connected with the transaction.... [T]he intent of the parties is to be ascertained by a fair and reasonable construction of the written words and ... the language used must be accorded its common, natural and ordinary meaning and usage where it can be sensibly applied to the subject matter of the contract.... "Where the language of the contract is clear and unambiguous, the contract is to be given effect according to its terms.... If a contract is unambiguous within its four corners, intent of the parties is a question of law requiring plenary review.... When the language of a contract is ambiguous, the determination of the parties' intent is a question of fact, and the trial court's interpretation is subject to reversal on appeal only if it is clearly erroneous.”

   1 later decision quote this exact passage
   e.g. 170 Conn. App. 822 - Chang v. Chang

2. “It is hornbook law that courts do not rewrite contracts for parties.... [A] court simply cannot disregard the words used by the parties or revise, add to, or create a new agreement.”

   1 later decision quote this exact passage
   e.g. 170 Conn. App. 822 - Chang v. Chang