Sharpe v. Smith’s Empirical Analysis

Citation profile

32 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 32 citing decisions cite the case generally; a passage count includes only decisions quoting that exact language verbatim.

1. ““In construing a deed, as in the case of a will, it is not what the parties may have intended by the language used but the nature and quantity of the interest conveyed must be determined by the meaning of the words used in the instrument itself and cannot be orally shown, [citations omitted]””

   2 later decisions quote this exact passage
   e.g. Toulouse v. Chilili Cooperative Ass'n · Moya v. Chilili Cooperative Association, Inc.

2. “[L]apse of time alone does not necessarily imply an unreasonable delay in bringing suit, but it must also appear that the delay has worked to the injury of another.”

   2 later decisions quote this exact passage
   e.g. REGENTS OF UNIVERSITY OF NM v. Hughes · Apodaca v. Tome Land & Improvement Co.

3. ““We find the weight of modern decisions holding that the intention of the .grantor, as gathered from the four corners of the deed, is the polestar of construction, and that all parts of the deed must be examined together, for the purpose of ascertaining the intention. [Citing cases] However, under the modem rule that the intention is to be gathered from the whole deed a granting clause purporting to convey a particular estate by clear language will prevail over a conflicting habendum not equally clear.””

   1 later decision quote this exact passage
   e.g. Price v. Johnson