Williams v. Williams’s Empirical Analysis

Citation profile

8 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 8 citing decisions cite the case generally; a passage count includes only decisions quoting that exact language verbatim.

1. “First, [the court] look[s] to the “four corners” of the agreement and review[s] the actual language the parties used in their agreement. When the language of the contract is clear or unambiguous, [the court] must effectuate the parties’ intent. However, if the language of the contract is not so clear, [the court] will, if possible, harmonize the provisions in accord with the parties’ apparent intent. Next, if the parties’ intent remains uncertain, [the court] may discretionarily employ canons of contract construction. Finally, [the court] may also consider parol of extrinsic evidence if necessary.”

   4 later decisions quote this exact passage
   e.g. Michael R. Smith v. Maggie Mae, LP · Chapel Hill, LLC v. SoilTech Consultants, Inc.

2. “Mississippi law favors settling disputes by agreements. In re Dissolution of the Marriage of De St. Germain, 977 So.2d 412, 420 (¶ 23) (Miss.Ct.App.2008). Absent fraud or overreaching, parties are afforded wide latitude in entering property settlement agreements. Steiner v. Steiner, 788 So.2d 771, 776 (¶ 17) (Miss.2001). “Property settlement agreements are contractual obligations.” West v. West, 891 So.2d 203, 210 (¶ 13) (Miss.2004) (citation omitted). “When the parties have reached [an] agreement and the chancery court has approved it, [the appellate court] ought to enforce it and take a dim view of efforts to modify it, as we ordinarily do when persons seek relief from their improvident contracts.” Id. at 211 (¶ 15) (citation omitted)..”

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

3. “It is the agreement and contract of the parties that the Wife is to have all survivors’ benefits otherwise accorded to her by law including, but not limited to, fifty-five percent (55%) of Husband’s survivor annuity, upon his death from Civil Service Retirement System. A QDRO will be entered allowing Wife 50% of Husband’s Military Retirement based upon Husband’s years of military service during this marriage. A QDRO will be entered allowing wife 55% of Husband’s Survivor Annuity upon his death from Civil Service Retirement System.”

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