Messer v. Messer’s Empirical Analysis

Citation profile

13 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 13 citing decisions cite the case generally; a passage count includes only decisions quoting that exact language verbatim.

1. “[t]hough the terms of the decree grant Husband great latitude in his choice of employment and provide a standard measure for reporting income, Husband’s right to manipulate his income must be governed by what is reasonable in light of the purpose of the agreement and the decree.... Read as a whole, one purpose of the decree was to provide a continuing means of support for Wife that kept pace with Husband’s income. Therefore, we hold the family court did not err by ruling income should be imputed to Husband.”

   1 later decision quote this exact passage
   e.g. LaFrance v. LaFrance

2. “an agreement is clear and capable of legal construction, the courts [sic] only function is to interpret its lawful meaning and the intent of the parties as found within the agreement.”

   1 later decision quote this exact passage
   e.g. Vista Antiques & Persian Rugs, Inc. v. Noaha, LLC

3. “However, where 'the language of a * settlement agreement is susceptible of more than one interpretation, it is the duty of the court to ascertain the intentions of the parties.'”

   1 later decision quote this exact passage
   e.g. Vista Antiques & Persian Rugs, Inc. v. Noaha, LLC