French v. Camp’s Empirical Analysis

Citation profile

4 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 5 citing decisions cite the case generally; a passage count includes only decisions quoting that exact language verbatim.

1. ““It is contended, that the defendants had an equal right to cut a hole in the ice, to water their horses or other cattle, or for other purposes. Assuming that the defendants have as good a right to the use of the water, as the plaintiff or the public generally had to the right of passage, the use of a common privilege should be such as may be most beneficial and least injurious to all who have occasion to avail themselves of it. To cut a hole in the center of a road upon the ice, or so near it as to entrap a traveler, is a wanton and unnecessary disturbance of the right of passage. It is making an improper use of a part of the river, lawfully appropriated for the time being, to a different purpose. It is a direct violation of that great principle of social duty, by which each one is required so to use his own rights as not to injure the rights of others.””

   1 later decision quote this exact passage · from the majority
   e.g. Parsons v. E. I. Du Pont De Nemours Powder Co.