State v. Johnson’s Empirical Analysis

Citation profile

2 federal appellate · 2 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 8 citing decisions cite the case generally; a passage count includes only decisions quoting that exact language verbatim.

1. “According to the State, the plain language of the signal statute clearly requires a turn signal anytime a vehicle moves "right or left" upon the roadway. There is no legal or logical justification, they say, for not applying the statute to every left or right movement, including the act of pulling away from a curb. However, under the State's literal interpretation, a signal would be necessary, regardless of the presence or absence of other traffic, every time a car (1) moves to the right or left to avoid a pothole or any object in the roadway; (2) pulls from a parking lot onto a street or roadway (even a one-way street); or (8) backs into a street from a perpendicular parking space.”

   1 later decision quote this exact passage
   e.g. State v. Juarez

2. “Where statutory language is unclear in context or will lead to an illogical result in light of the overall legislative purpose, we look beyond the plain and ordinary meaning of the words and construe the words in light of the overall purpose. See Phillips [v. Am. Motorist Ins. Co.], 996 S.W.2d [584 (Mo.App.1994 [1999] )] at 587-88.. In the case of an unclear criminal statute, we construe the statute strictly against the State. See State v. Withrow, 8 S.W.3d 75, 79-80 (Mo. banc 1999). Here, we think the overall purpose was to require signals (as well as careful driving) when drivers turn left or right or change lanes upon a roadway.”

   1 later decision quote this exact passage
   e.g. State v. Juarez

3. “No person shall stop or suddenly decrease the speed of or turn a vehicle from a direct course or move right or left upon a roadway unless and until such movement can be made with reasonable safety and then only after the giving of an appropriate signal in the manner provided herein.”

   1 later decision quote this exact passage
   e.g. 79 F. Supp. 3d 881 - United States v. Stanbridge