Beene v. Bryant’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. ““An ordinance * * * should be construed in its entirety, giving effect to every part of it and it should be construed most strongly against the contestant and most liberally in favor of the best interest of the public. Ordinances are to be construed according to the ordinary meaning of the language used therein, and the proper grammatical effect of their arrangement, but a literal construction will not be given where it will defeat the purpose of the ordinance. The intention of the City Commission should be ascertained, if possible, in construing a city ordinance and the manifest purpose of the ordinance must be given effect, if it is capable of such construction, so as to express its real purpose and not what its purpose might have been. An ordinance should be reasonably construed and not in a manner repugnant to common sense and it should be construed more as to substance rather than as to form. Any reasonable doubt as to its construction or validity should be resolved in its favor and if it be susceptible of two constructions, one valid and the other void, the former should be chosen, especially if it be for the best interest of the general public.””

   1 later decision quote this exact passage
   e.g. City of Lubbock v. Whitacre