2007 Pa. Super. 402 - Vargo v. Schwartz’s Empirical Analysis

Citation profile

32 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 32 citing decisions cite the case generally; a passage count includes only decisions quoting that exact language verbatim.

1. “The “best interests” of the child in this case are not, in my view, met by a holding which will find a child left without the source of support to which he would otherwise be entitled. A caring and just society should not be seen to condone or even permit the fathering of a child without the presumptive responsibility to contribute to the care of that child, and where the application of the doctrine of paternity by estoppel interferes with that responsibility, it would wisely be abrogated.”

   2 later decisions quote this exact passage · from the dissent
   e.g. K.E.M. v. P.C.S. · K.E.M. v. P.C.S.

2. “We do not allow a person to deny “parentage” of a child, regardless of biological status, if that person holds the child out as his own and provides support. When such circumstances exist, we will also not allow a child’s mother to sue a third party for support based on biological status. Plainly, the law does not allow a person to challenge his role as a parent once he has accepted it, even with contrary DNA and blood tests.”

   2 later decisions quote this exact passage · from the dissent
   e.g. K.E.M. v. P.C.S. · K.E.M. v. P.C.S.

3. “[F]irst, one considers whether the presumption of paternity applies to [the] particular case. If it does, one then considers whether the presumption has been rebutted. Second, if the presumption has been rebutted or is inapplicable, one then questions whether estoppel applies.”

   2 later decisions quote this exact passage
   e.g. J.J. v. M.C. · J.L. v. A.L.