Spicer v. Rossetti’s Empirical Analysis

Citation profile

4 federal appellate · 1 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 6 citing decisions cite the case generally; a passage count includes only decisions quoting that exact language verbatim.

1. “While we recognize that “improper comments during closing argument rarely rise to the level of reversible error,” we believe that defense counsel’s comments here warrant reversal. Just as counsel may not express his beliefs regarding the honesty of the opposing party’s witnesses, he may not express his belief regarding opposing counsel’s opinions of honesty. These opinions have no place in a court of law, and defense counsel’s conduct was grossly in-appropriate____We cannot say that these comments might not have influenced the jury’s verdict; indeed since the case turned entirely on Spicer’s credibility, versus that of the guards, the improper comments were an egregious attack into the heart of the plaintiffs case.”

   1 later decision quote this exact passage · from the majority
   e.g. James v. Tilghman