People v. Vasquez’s Empirical Analysis

Citation profile

9 federal appellate · 14 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 39 citing decisions cite the case generally; a passage count includes only decisions quoting that exact language verbatim.

1. “In seeking meaning, words and clauses will not be divorced from those which precede and those which follow.”

   2 later decisions quote this exact passage
   e.g. 322 Mich. App. 667 - Honigman Miller Schwartz and Cohn LLP v. City of Detroit · Farmers Ins. Exchange v. FARM BUREAU GEN. INS. CO.

2. “obstruct, resist, oppose, assault, beat or wound”

   2 later decisions quote this exact passage
   e.g. Risbridger v. East Lansing · Benjamin Travis Risbridger v. Lawton Connelly Chief of Police City

3. “In the present case, the statute uses the word “obstruct” as part of a list containing five other words, namely, “resist, oppose, assault, beat [and] wound.” The meaning of the word “obstruct” should be determined in this particular context, and be given a meaning logically related to the five surrounding words of the statute. “Resist” is defined as “to withstand, strive against, or oppose.” “Resistance” is additional defined as “the opposition offered by one thing, force, etc.” “Oppose” is defined as “to act against or furnish resistance to; combat.” “Assault” is defined as “a sudden violent attack; onslaught.” “Beat” is defined as “to strike forcefully and repeatedly; ... to hit repeatedly as to cause painful injury.” “Wound” is defined as “to inflict a wound upon; injure; hurt.” Each of these words, when read together, clearly implies an element of threatened or actual physical interference. The accompanying term “obstruct” is susceptible to several potential meanings. “Obstruct” is defined as: “1. to block or close up with an obstacle. 2. to hinder, interrupt, or delay the passage, progress, course, etc. of. 3. to block from sight; be in the way of (a view, passage, etc.).” Accordingly, we understand the dissent’s definition of “obstruct,” which defines it as including both physical and non-physical conduct. Although we understand that “obstruct” can be defined in such a manner, when read in context, we believe that the more reasonable interpretation is one that communica”

   1 later decision quote this exact passage
   e.g. 362 F. Supp. 2d 927 - Marrs v. Tuckey