333 So. 2d 97 - Bennett v. Warden’s Empirical Analysis

Citation profile

22 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 22 citing decisions cite the case generally; a passage count includes only decisions quoting that exact language verbatim.

1. “[F]requent and unpublicized meetings between an executive officer and advisers, consultants, staff or personnel under his direction, for the purpose of "fact-finding" to assist him in the execution of those duties, are not meetings within the contemplation of the Sunshine Law... . It would be unrealistic, indeed intolerable, to require of such professionals that every meeting, every contact, and every discussion with anyone from whom they would seek counsel or consultation to assist in acquiring the necessary information, data or intelligence needed to advise or guide the authority by whom they are employed, be a public meeting within the disciplines of the Sunshine Law. Neither the letter nor the spirit of the law require it.”

   4 later decisions quote this exact passage
   e.g. Associated Press v. Crofts · 473 So. 2d 222 - Cape Publications, Inc. v. City of Palm Bay

2. “the facts are that the members thereof are appointed by and serve at the pleasure of the appellant, President Bennett; that there is no evidence beyond the naked knowledge of its existence and function that the Board of Trustees [the ultimate decision-maker] has reserved or exerted any control of any nature, kind or description over the CEC; that the matters discussed between the President and the CEC are not policy matters but, rather, constituted fact-finding expeditions by the President as executive officer of the Board.”

   1 later decision quote this exact passage
   e.g. 442 So. 2d 934 - Wood v. Marston