Spencer v. . McCleneghan’s Empirical Analysis

Citation profile

11 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 12 citing decisions cite the case generally; a passage count includes only decisions quoting that exact language verbatim.

1. “The policy of the law is to encourage settlement of family disputes, like the present, so as to promote peace, good will, and harmony among those connected by consanguinity or affinity. Equity favors amicable adjustments. In the present action the contract that was made was a compromise over the provisions of the will, based on the present deflation in prices and an adjustment of other differences. The court below found the facts at length with care, and rendered judgment that it was to the best interest of all that `the terms and provisions of said contract . . . be accepted, ratified, and approved, and carried into effect.' It was further found as a fact `that the parties to this proceeding are all properly before the court.'”

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

2. “We think those in esse or in posse are properly represented in this proceeding; all parties who could possibly have any interest in the estate are parties to this action and the infant and all unborn children who might have any interest are properly represented. From a careful examination of the facts as found by the court below, and the judgment rendered, we think a court of equity has jurisdiction in the matter. . . . The policy of the law is to encourage settlement of family disputes like the present, so as to promote peace, good will, and harmony among those connected by consanguinity or affinity. Equity favors amicable adjustments.”

   1 later decision quote this exact passage · from the majority
   e.g. Trust Co. v. . Wade