United States v. Smith’s Empirical Analysis

Citation profile

5 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 9 citing decisions cite the case generally; a passage count includes only decisions quoting that exact language verbatim.

1. ““As to them (eight patents) the suit is barred, for in my judgment the statute begins to run from the date of the issuance of the patent, and not from the discovery of the fraud. The language of the statute is plain and leaves no room for construction. It says suits of the United States to vacate or annul patents shall only be brought within six years after the issuance of patent. * * * The object of this statute is to extinguish any right the government may have in the land and vest a perfect title in the adverse holder after six years from date of the patent, regardless of any mistake or error in the Land Department, or the fraud or imposition of the -patentee.””

   1 later decision quote this exact passage · from the majority
   e.g. United States v. Exploration Co.

2. ““I am aware that the soundness of this conclusion is not free from doubt; but I believe it to be in accordance with equity, justice, and sound reason.””

   1 later decision quote this exact passage · from the majority
   e.g. Linn & Lane Timber Co. v. United States