Middleton v. Johnson’s Empirical Analysis

Citation profile

27 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 27 citing decisions cite the case generally; a passage count includes only decisions quoting that exact language verbatim.

1. “(1) that the biological or adoptive parent[s] consented to, and fostered, the petitioners formation and establishment of a parent-like relationship with the child; (2) that the petitioner and the child lived together in the same household; (3) that the petitioner assumed obligations of parenthood by taking significant responsibility for the child’s care, education and development, including contributing towards the child’s support, without expectation of financial compensation; [and] (4) that the petitioner has been in a parental role for a length of time sufficient to have established with the child a bonded, dependent relationship parental in nature.”

   2 later decisions quote this exact passage
   e.g. Tracie F. v. Francisco D. · Marquez v. Caudill

2. “. . . Middleton assumed the obligations of parenthood by taking significant responsibility for Josh's care, education, and development. Middleton paid for Josh's preschool. Additionally, he paid mother $250 dollars per month while Josh was in Mother's custody. . . . [H]e was able to document approximately $12,000 he had given Mother over the years. Further, Middleton established a savings account for Josh's education. . . . [The biological father], on the other hand, made no attempt to fulfill Josh's emotional need for a father. In fact, other than seeing Josh one time when he was three days old, [he] has never visited Josh. This parental void left by Josh's biological father coupled with the parental obligations assumed by Middleton compel us to find that Middleton undertook the responsibilities necessary to meet the [requirements] of the psychological-parent test. . . . [Josh's therapist] explained that . . . Josh, who was ten years old when his relationship with Middleton abruptly ended, was particularly devastated by the loss because he was at a stage in life when he was learning how to socialize. . . . [His] loss of contact with Middleton rendered Josh "at-risk regarding his ability to trust, [and to] form and maintain close relationships."”

   1 later decision quote this exact passage · from the concurrence
   e.g. In Re CTG

3. “... Middleton assumed the obligations of parenthood by taking significant responsibility for Josh’s care, education, and development. Middleton paid for Josh’s preschool. Additionally, he paid mother $250 dollars per month while Josh was in Mother’s custody- [H]e was able to document approximately $12,000 he had given Mother over the years. Further, Middleton established a savings account for Josh’s education. ... [The biological father], on the other hand, made no attempt to fulfill Josh’s emotional need for a father. In fact, other than seeing Josh one time when he was three days old, [he] has never visited Josh. This parental void left by Josh’s biological father coupled with the parental obligations assumed by Middleton compel us to find that Middleton undertook the responsibilities necessary to meet the [requirements] of the psychological-parent test. ... [Josh’s therapist] explained that ... Josh, who was ten years old when his relationship with Middleton abruptly ended, was particularly devastated by the loss because he was at a stage in life when he was learning how to socialize.... [His] loss of contact with Middleton rendered Josh “at-risk regarding his ability to trust, [and to] form and maintain close relationships.””

   1 later decision quote this exact passage · from the concurrence
   e.g. In the Interest of C.T.G.