Fowler v. Doan’s Empirical Analysis

Citation profile

2 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 2 citing decisions cite the case generally; a passage count includes only decisions quoting that exact language verbatim.

1. “This act shall be construed to effect the legislative purpose of simplifying and facilitating land title transactions by allowing persons dealing with the record title owner, as defined in this act, to rely on the record title covering a period of not more than 20 years for mineral interests and 40 years for other interests prior to the date of such dealing and to that end to extinguish all claims that affect or may affect the interest dealt with, the existence of which claims arises out of or depends upon any act, transaction, event, or omission antedating the 20-year period for mineral interests and the 40-year period for other interests, unless within the 20-year period for mineral interests or the 40-year period for other interests a notice of claim as provided in section 3 [MCL 565.103] has been filed for record. The claims extinguished by this act are any and all interests of any nature whatever, however denominated, and whether the claims are asserted by a person sui juris or under disability, whether the person is within or outside the state, and whether the person is natural or corporate, or private or governmental. [MCL 565.106 (emphasis added).]”

   1 later decision quote this exact passage
   e.g. Fowler v. Doan

2. “There are two chains of title to this parcel, and there was clearly a defect in Plaintiffs' chain in that the Beverlys had already deeded out their interest in the disputed strip prior to their deed of the same property which is contained in Plaintiffs' chain of title. Defendants' chain, however, lies dormant from 1916 to 1996, a period of 80 years. Since Plaintiffs' chain of record title exceeds 40 years prior to 1996, they are entitled to hold this property free and clear of any claim by the Defendants.”

   1 later decision quote this exact passage
   e.g. Fowler v. Doan

3. “Marketable title shall be held by a person and shall be taken by his or her successors in interest free and clear of any and all interests, claims, and charges whatsoever the existence of which depends in whole or in part upon any act, transaction, event, or omission that occurred prior to the 20-year period for mineral interests, and the 40-year period for other interests, and all interests, claims, and charges are hereby declared to be null and void and of no effect at law or in equity.”

   1 later decision quote this exact passage
   e.g. Fowler v. Doan