Smith v. McDonald’s Empirical Analysis

Citation profile

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

1. “Joint custody is inappropriate for parents whose relationship to date has been 'dysfunctional, virtually nonexistent, and one of continuous conflict'”

   2 later decisions quote this exact passage
   e.g. Ampomah v. Filson · 94 Mass. App. Ct. 1122 - S.P. v. B.D.

2. “afforded considerable freedom to identify pertinent factors in assessing the welfare of the child and weigh them as [the judge] sees fit.”

   2 later decisions quote this exact passage
   e.g. 94 Mass. App. Ct. 1122 - Mays v. Lee · 94 Mass. App. Ct. 1122 - S.P. v. B.D.

3. “Determining what parenting and living arrangements will be in a child's best interests 'presents the trial judge”

   1 later decision quote this exact passage
   e.g. 94 Mass. App. Ct. 1118 - Miles v. Beusch