Stephens v. Commonwealth’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 3 citing decisions cite the case generally; a passage count includes only decisions quoting that exact language verbatim.

1. “Though we do not accept appellant's proposition that a case of voluntary manslaughter by automobile cannot be established solely by the physical facts and circumstances (to the contrary, see Casey v. Com., Ky., 1958, 313 S.W.2d 276 ), it is our conclusion that excessive speed on the open highway, without any evidence of how excessive it was or what other conditions attended or led up to it, does not necessarily forecast a sufficient likelihood or probability of accident and injury to support a verdict of voluntary manslaughter.”

   1 later decision quote this exact passage
   e.g. Fugate v. Commonwealth

2. “We do not know how sharp the curve was or to what speed the Stephens car had slowed at the end of the 53-yard braking distance. However, it is reasonable to infer from the physical evidence that as Stephens drove through the curve he was going too fast to keep his car in its proper traffic lane. It seems fairly certain from the testimony that he knew the road, but there was no evidence as to how heavily traveled it was.”

   1 later decision quote this exact passage
   e.g. Fugate v. Commonwealth

3. “The most that can be said to have been proved in this case is that Stephens caused the accident by driving to the wrong side as he rounded a curve too fast on a road with which he was familiar. Under the `reasonable doubt' standard of criminal law, does this evidence support a finding of reckless and wanton conduct? A majority of the court thinks it does not.”

   1 later decision quote this exact passage
   e.g. Fugate v. Commonwealth