Van Deusen v. Newcomer’s Empirical Analysis

Citation profile

1 federal appellate · 1 district · 20 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. ““The helpless condition' of insane. persons, and the possibility of cure which is present in the early stages of mqst cases, imposes upon their relatives the solemn duty to take steps for their cure by placing- them in the institutions specially provided for their treatment, and clothes them’with all necessary power for the purpose, that they may restrain them of their liberty with a view to their cure,- as they might a person in the delirium of fever, or one who, in any case of mere bodily disease, was in danger, either purposely or through ignorance or temporary, loss of prudence and discretion, of' inflicting or causing self-injury.””

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

2. ““Whoever takes into his own hands so serious a responsibility as the confinement of a citizen upon his own .judgment merely, assuming it to be necessary in self-defense, must show that, upon the evidence, danger from his being at large was not merely possible, but was probable. Many sane persons, under the influence of strong excitements, are subject 'to serious and perhaps dangerous fits of passion; but another could not be allowed, on this ground alone, to seize and imprison them, in anticipation that possibly the occasion for excitement might arise, and the passion be manifested.””

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

3. ““Insane persons are dangerous to others, from their propensity to commit mischief, which they are liable at any moment to manifest, though it may have never been exhibited before; and that, therefore, the state, through its organized action, or any member of the political society, .without other warrant than the imperious law of self-defense, may restrain their actions, and, when no other restraint is provided, may properly remove them to the retreat the state has provided for their benefit.””

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