201 W. Va. 198 - William L. v. Cindy E.L.’s Empirical Analysis

Citation profile

6 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 6 citing decisions cite the case generally; a passage count includes only decisions quoting that exact language verbatim.

1. “This Court ... simply by the entry of a court order, cannot compel the giving of love and affection any more than it can change the weather. The Court's poor powers in this area are limited to ensuring continued financial support. Such financial support is, of course, beneficial to the child, but falls far short of what constitutes the child's best interests.”

   1 later decision quote this exact passage · from the dissent
   e.g. 212 W. Va. 1 - Marriage/Children of Betty L.W. v. William E.W.

2. “A trial judge should refuse to admit blood test evidence which would disprove paternity when the individual attempting to disestablish paternity has held himself out to be the father of the child for a sufficient period of time such that disproof of paternity would result in undeniable harm to the child.”

   1 later decision quote this exact passage · from the majority
   e.g. 224 W. Va. 272 - Galloway v. Galloway

3. “fraudulent conduct exists in every case where a wife gives birth to a child cognizant of the fact that paternity is uncertain, yet remains silent while her husband innocently assumes the care of the child.”

   1 later decision quote this exact passage · from the dissent
   e.g. 212 W. Va. 1 - Marriage/Children of Betty L.W. v. William E.W.