Vidal v. Rivas’s Empirical Analysis

Citation profile

3 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 3 citing decisions cite the case generally; a passage count includes only decisions quoting that exact language verbatim.

1. “If the test results or the expert analysis of the inherited characteristics is disputed, the court, upon reasonable request of a party, shall order that an additional test be made... .”

   2 later decisions quote this exact passage · from the majority
   e.g. 718 So. 2d 354 - Morris v. Crawford · 599 So. 2d 175 - Marshek v. Marshek

2. “"Shall" as used in the statute in question must be considered as being directory, because to construe it as mandatory would render meaningless the words immediately proceeding it, to wit: "reasonable request." "Request" by its very definition indicates that it is not a mandatory command, but what is requested is addressed to the discretion of the recipient. We construe the use of "shall" in the statute as directory and next look to determine if the trial judge acted reasonably under all the circumstances, or to state it differently, whether the trial judge abused his discretion in denying an additional test.”

   1 later decision quote this exact passage · from the majority
   e.g. 718 So. 2d 354 - Morris v. Crawford

3. “[i]f the test results show the alleged father cannot be the biological father, the case shall be dismissed with prejudice,”

   1 later decision quote this exact passage · from the majority
   e.g. 718 So. 2d 354 - Morris v. Crawford