Steele v. Williams’s Empirical Analysis

Citation profile

35 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 35 citing decisions cite the case generally; a passage count includes only decisions quoting that exact language verbatim.

1. “The fact that the words “heirs and assigns forever” were used [in the instrument creating the easement] does not and cannot change an easement in gross to an easement appurtenant to land. Even if it were admitted that the use of the words “heirs and assigns forever” connoted an intention of the parties to create an easement appurtenant to land, it would bring no advantage to the appellant. For to so do would contravene an established rule of law, and whatever may have been the intentions of the parties, it must yield to this rule of law so well established in this State.”

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

2. “Three things are necessary to establish a right by prescription: ... (3) that the use or enjoyment was adverse or under claim of right.”). The Court offered no explanation for dropping the comma. While the comma reappeared after the term”

   1 later decision quote this exact passage · from the majority
   e.g. Simmons v. Berkeley Electric Cooperative, Inc.

3. “An appendant or appurtenant easement must inhere in the land, concern the premises, have one terminus on the land of the party claiming it, and be essentially necessary to the enjoyment thereof.”

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