Thomas Christianson v. County of King’s Empirical Analysis

Citation profile

43 federal appellate · 22 district · 57 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 177 citing decisions cite the case generally; a passage count includes only decisions quoting that exact language verbatim.

1. ““It appears that subsequently the probate court, after opportunity had been afforded to discover heirs, entertained a petition of the administrator for final account and distribution. The statutory notice « * * was published, and on the return day the proceeding was duly continued, and, on hearing, the decree was entered settling the account, finding that there were no heirs, and directing distribution of the real proiierty, as described, to the County of King. This proceeding was essentially in rem [citing eases]. It was competent for the court to inquire whether there were heirs, and, if there were such, to determine who were entitled to take according to the order prescribed by the statute; and also, if it was found that there were no heirs, to make the distribution to the county as the statute required. It is apparent that there wqs no deprivation of property without due process of law. The court, after appropriate notice, did determine that there were no heirs and its decree being the act of a court of competent jurisdiction under a valid statute bound all the world including the plaintiff in error. It cannot be regarded as open to attack in this action. Grignon’s Lessee v. Astor [ 2 How. 319 , 11 L. Ed. 283 ] supra; Florentine v. Barton [ 2 Wall. 210 , 17 L. Ed. 783 ] supra; Caujolle v. Ferrie, 13 Wall. 465 , 474 [ 20 L. Ed. 507 ]; Broderick’s Will, 21 Wall. 503 [ 22 L. Ed. 509 ]; Simmons v. Saul [ 138 U. S. 439 , 11 Sup. Ct. 369 , 34 L. Ed. 1054 ] supra; Goodrich v. Ee”

   1 later decision quote this exact passage
   e.g. Thompson v. Nichols

2. “"In the case of the Territories, Congress could have dealt with this subject if it chose, but it did not see fit to establish a rule of its own. The matter, however, remained a 'rightful subject’ of legislation and Congress did not except it from the broad grant of legislative power.””

   1 later decision quote this exact passage
   e.g. Johnson & Johnson, Inc. v. G. E. M. Sundries Co.

3. ““Despite the informality of the petition, the appointment of the administrator was not void, and, not being void, it is not subject to collateral attach.””

   1 later decision quote this exact passage
   e.g. Thompson v. Nichols