Michener v. Watts’s Empirical Analysis

Citation profile

4 federal appellate · 10 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 14 citing decisions cite the case generally; a passage count includes only decisions quoting that exact language verbatim.

1. ““The law also implies a promise to refund money received under an illegal contract, where the plaintiff does not stand in pari delicto .with the defendant. Where contracts, for example, are prohibited by statute, for the purpose of preventing one set of men from taking advantage of the necessities of others, and money is paid upon such contracts by one of those whom the law intended to protect, the person who has so paid his money does not stand in pari delicto with the person who has received it, and may, after the forbidden transaction is completed, bring an action upon a promise implied by law from the person who has got the. money, to refund it.””

   1 later decision quote this exact passage
   e.g. Badger Coal & Coke Co. v. Sterling Midland Coal Co.

2. ““The general rule that the law will not enforce contracts made in violation of statute, or allow the recovery of money or property delivered in pursuance thereof, does not apply to appellee, for he cannot be said to be in pari delicto with appellant. The duties prescribed by said sections of the statute are imposed upon the vendor of patent rights, and are for the protection of purchasers.' The law was not violated by appellee.””

   1 later decision quote this exact passage
   e.g. Badger Coal & Coke Co. v. Sterling Midland Coal Co.