Laird v. Laird’s Empirical Analysis

Citation profile

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

1. “The recommended child support amount represents 14.3% of Lonnie’s net income, and is a significant amount of money. The testimony established, however, that Parker is engaged in a number of activities with the support of his father, who attends these activities in many instances. He has also provided him things such as a hunting dog for which $1,000 was paid and which costs a certain amount of money to properly maintain. As Parker grows older, his tastes will become more expensive, his activities will continue to become more extensive and expensive, and he will face the prospect of higher education. The extrapolated support value should not be used without regard to the child’s needs and standard of living. The increased child support offers the prospect of supporting Parker’s lifestyle, reducing the tension between the parents who do not agree upon reimbursement for some of these activities, and providing for the expense of many activities in which Parker is engaged. SDCL 25-7-6.10(6) would be a factor, but it appears that the agreement between the parents regarding Lonnie’s payment of 88% of extracurricular activity expenses is becoming problematic. Lonnie did not want to pay Wanda for her sister to go shopping on one of Parker’s road trips, and he didn’t realize that he would have to pay all costs and expenses associated with the dog that he gave to Parker. A fixed amount upon which all parties can rely should eliminate the disagreements and unpaid bills that have potentia”

   1 later decision quote this exact passage · from the majority
   e.g. McKittrick v. McKittrick

2. “Findings of fact are reviewed under the clearly erroneous standard. This Court must be left with a definite and firm conviction that a mistake has been made to overturn a circuit court’s findings. Watson-Wojewski v. Wojewski, 2000 SD 132, ¶ 13 , 617 N.W.2d 666, 669-670 (citing Billion v. Billion, 1996 SD 101, ¶ 13 , 553 N.W.2d 226, 230 ). Questions of law are reviewed de novo. Hendricksen v. Harris, 1999 SD 130, ¶ 7 , 600 N.W.2d 180, 181 . An award of child support will not be disturbed unless the trial court clearly abused its discretion. Watson-Wojewski, 2000 SD 132 at ¶ 14 , 617 N.W.2d at 670 (citing Steffens v. Peterson, 503 N.W.2d 254, 257 (S.D.1993)). Abuse of discretion is defined as “a discretion exercised to an end or purpose not justified by, and clearly against, reason and evidence.” Billion, 1996 SD 101 at ¶ 14 , 553 N.W.2d at 230 . The question is not would this Court have made the same decision, but “whether a judicial mind, in view of the law and circumstances of the particular case, could reasonably have reached such a conclusion.” Id. (citing Nelson v. Nelson, 454 N.W.2d 533, 534 (S.D.1990)).”

   1 later decision quote this exact passage · from the majority
   e.g. Roberts v. Roberts