Thomas v. Thomas’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. “It is well settled that the trial court is vested with broad discretion in child custody cases. The decision of the trial court should not be upset on appeal absent a clear showing of abuse of discretion. "Findings of fact by a trial court must be supported by substantial evidence." Substantial evidence has been defined as "such relevant evidence as a reasonable mind might accept as adequate to support a conclusion." "A trial court's findings of fact in a bench trial have the force of a jury verdict and are conclusive on appeal if there is evidence to support them." However, the trial court's conclusions of law must be reviewed de novo.”

   1 later decision quote this exact passage
   e.g. 246 N.C. App. 245 - Meadows v. Meadows

2. “Unless the effect of the change on the children is 'self-evident,' the trial court must find sufficient evidence of a nexus between the change in circumstances and the welfare of the children.”

   1 later decision quote this exact passage
   e.g. Chapman v. Pimentel

3. “(1) that there has been a substantial change in circumstances affecting the welfare of the child , and (2) a change in custody is in the best interest of the child.”

   1 later decision quote this exact passage
   e.g. Chapman v. Pimentel