State v. Biller’s Empirical Analysis

Citation profile

3 federal appellate · 2 district · 56 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 61 citing decisions cite the case generally; a passage count includes only decisions quoting that exact language verbatim.

1. “On April 13, 1975, and April 18, 1975, suspicious fires heavily damaged an apartment building located at 66-68 Norton Street in the city of New Haven. The property was an asset of the Bridge-haven Corporation, a closely held corporation controlled by Peter and Marilyn Cappola. Peter Cappola, a key state’s witness, had insured the property for approximately $580,000. Prior to the date of the fires, the Cappolas had retained [Meyer Biller] for the purpose of settling claims with insurance companies. Also prior to the date of the April 13, 1975 fire, Peter Cappola advised Biller that a fire would in fact occur. Cappola admitted setting the April 13, 1975 fire, but denied any involvement in the April 18, 1975 fire. Biller proceeded to adjust claims arising out of both fires. He and his son, Lawrence Biller, prepared a detailed survey itemizing the damage and replacement costs. Before the expiration of the deadline for filing proofs of loss with the insurance company, Biller provided Peter Cappola with two proof of loss forms and instructed Cappola to take them home and get his wife’s signature. Cappola took the forms home. There the Cappo-las signed one blank form for each fire. These signed but otherwise blank forms were then submitted to [Biller’s] office. The Cappolas were unaware of the amounts claimed in the proofs of loss until after their submission to the insurer. Neither Peter nor Marilyn Cappola took an oath concerning the claims submitted. Gerald Hale, the insurance co”

   1 later decision quote this exact passage
   e.g. Biller v. Lopes

2. “[Meyer Biller] had been subpoenaed to the grand jury to produce his corporate records [from Biller Associates, a closely-held corporation]. Biller appeared before the grand jury on nine different days between October 9, 1975, and March 12, 1976. When questioned about his own activities on behalf of the corporation, Biller asserted his constitutional privilege against self-incrimination. The grand juror ordered him to answer the questions because they involved actions which the defendant might have taken in a corporate capacity regardless of whether the answers would implicate the de fendant personally. This ruling was established by Judge Levine on the defendant’s first day of testimony before the grand jury and was reaffirmed on every subsequent day of testimony up to an including March 2, and March 4, when the defendant gave the statements that were later introduced at trial.”

   1 later decision quote this exact passage
   e.g. Biller v. Lopes