706 So. 2d 749 - Watts v. Watts’s Empirical Analysis

Citation profile

16 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 17 citing decisions cite the case generally; a passage count includes only decisions quoting that exact language verbatim.

1. “"The purpose of a civil contempt proceeding is to effectuate compliance with court orders and not to punish the contemnor. The inability to pay child support or alimony is a defense to contempt. When the accused presents evidence that he is unable to pay the ordered amount, the burden or proof is on the complainant to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that he can comply."”

   5 later decisions quote this exact passage
   e.g. 789 So. 2d 863 - Sealy v. D'AMICO · 892 So. 2d 958 - Hall v. Hall

2. “"This court is not allowed to substitute its judgment for that of the trial court when the trial court's decision is supported by reasonable inferences that can be derived from the ore tenus evidence presented. Terry v. Pielach , 681 So.2d 154 (Ala.Civ.App. 1996). The trial court is in the better position to observe the witnesses and to assess their credibility. Id . at 154-55."”

   2 later decisions quote this exact passage
   e.g. O'Barr v. O'Barr · 789 So. 2d 863 - Sealy v. D'AMICO

3. “the trial court found that [the contemnor] lacked credibility and believed that [the contemnor] had the ability to pay the amount ordered to purge himself of contempt.”

   1 later decision quote this exact passage
   e.g. Richards v. Franklin