Lyons v. Shearman’s Empirical Analysis

Citation profile

7 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 7 citing decisions cite the case generally; a passage count includes only decisions quoting that exact language verbatim.

1. “While it is true as asserted by plaintiffs that right to present possession is the gist of the action, unless the chattel, subject matter of the action, is so described that it may be identified by reasonable means, the right to possession means nothing. He must show what he is entitled to possess. Plaintiffs, under this record, have failed to establish the necessary allegations of their petition and ... the judgment must be affirmed, without prejudice, however, to plaintiffs’ right to pursue any other remedy that may be available to them.”

   1 later decision quote this exact passage
   e.g. Prenger v. Baker

2. “We think it clear, therefore, that the plaintiff was entitled to a directed verdict, though it did not ask for one. Having obtained its verdict from the jury, it may defend the same on the same grounds upon which it might have demanded a directed verdict. The fact that it was entitled to a directed verdict renders errors as to other issues nonprejudicial.”

   1 later decision quote this exact passage
   e.g. Edwards v. City of Des Moines