Mathers v. Texaco, Inc.’s Empirical Analysis

Citation profile

2 federal appellate · 2 district · 25 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 29 citing decisions cite the case generally; a passage count includes only decisions quoting that exact language verbatim.

1. “[T]he question of impairment of existing rights is one which must generally be decided upon the facts in each case, and . . . a definition of `impairment of existing rights' is not only difficult, but an `attempt to define the same would lead to severe complications.'”

   3 later decisions quote this exact passage
   e.g. Montgomery v. New Mexico State Engineer · Bounds v. State ex rel. D'Antonio

2. ““2. It was stipulated that Portales Val-, ley Project, Inc. is a valid, existing New Mexico non-profit corporation incorpo-. rated under the laws of the-State of New Mexico (51-14 — 1 et seq. N.M.S.A., 1953) ; that the purposes for which the corporation was formed are: (a) To preserve and protect the shallow underground water supply in the Portales Underground Water Basin. (b) To obtain and provide ways and means,' whereby ’supplemental water supplies may be obtained from various sources for,the purpose of providing addition-' al and supplemental water to those lands having valid existing shallow underground water rights in the Portales Underground Water Basin, which said lands presently are without adequate supplies of water to insure reasonable and normal* irrigation use. (c) To do and perform any and all acts necessary, incidental and proper to provide for the general welfare of the members of said corporation. (d) To own lands, drill wells, build ca-náls and,underground water line's. - (e)To do any and all other things necessary, incidental and proper to the fulfillment of the aims and purposes to which this said corporation is dedicated, including the appropriation of and transmission of water, from all sources, and to file applications for the drilling of wells and installation and pumping plants in connection therewith, to the use and benefit of the members of the corporation and to own real and personal property in connection with the purposes hereof.””

   1 later decision quote this exact passage
   e.g. Coldwater Cattle Co. v. Portales Valley Project, Inc.

3. “[t]he lowering of a water table in any particular amount does not necessarily constitute an impairment of water rights of adjoining appropriators.”

   1 later decision quote this exact passage
   e.g. Montgomery v. New Mexico State Engineer