Plack v. Weber’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 4 citing decisions cite the case generally; a passage count includes only decisions quoting that exact language verbatim.

1. “Section V of the restrictions gives the right to the company in its absolute discretion ... to annul any of the ... covenants____ The word “annul” is hardly one requiring judicial interpretation. “It is not a technical word and there is nothing which prevents the idea from being expressed in equivalent words.” It is clearly understood to mean “revoke” or “abolish.” ... One who conveys ... land ... may reserve to himself the power to modify or omit these restrictions altogether____ Even if language ... involves a doubt as to the construction, the rule is that such covenants are to be construed strictly against those seeking to enforce them____ [T]he original plan was a subdivision of large lots with expensive houses and the present change ... permits less expensive properties____ [A]t this time it is difficult to sell large lots which call for the construction of large and expensive houses____”

   1 later decision quote this exact passage · from the majority
   e.g. 92 Md. App. 137 - Markey v. Wolf