182 W. Va. 677 - Bridgeman v. Bridgeman’s Empirical Analysis

Citation profile

13 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. “5. Based upon the persuasive evidence presented by the parties, in the instant action, the Court concludes the relevant factors under W. Va.Code 48-2-16(b) to be the following: a) The length of time the parties were married; b) The period of time during the marriage when the parties actually lived together as husband and wife; c) The present employment income and other recurring earnings of each party from any source; d) The income-earning abilities of each of the parties, based upon such factors as educational background, training, employment skills, work experience, length of absence from the job market and custodial responsibilities for children; e) The distribution of marital property to be made under the terms of a separation agreement or by the court under the provisions of section thirty-two [§ 48-2-32] of this article, insofar as the distribution affects or will affect the earnings of the parties and their ability to pay or their need to receive alimony ... f) The ages and the physical, mental and emotional condition of each party; g) The educational qualifications of each party; h) The costs of providing health care for each of the parties ... i) The tax consequences to each party; j) The financial need of each party; k) The legal obligations of each party to support himself or herself and to support any other person; l) Such other factors as the court deems necessary or appropriate to consider in order to arrivé at a fair and equitable grant of alimony, child suppor”

   1 later decision quote this exact passage
   e.g. Marriage of Santee v. Santee

2. “As a general rule, a significant alimony award is more appropriate after a long marriage than after a short one. In long marriages, it often happens that one party foregoes education and employment, in effect permanently, in order to support the other’s career and the couple’s children. In short marriages that produce no children, conversely, each party’s sacrifices tend to be short-lived and easily remedied.”

   1 later decision quote this exact passage
   e.g. Marriage of Santee v. Santee