Watson v. Watson’s Empirical Analysis

Citation profile

3 federal appellate · 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 19 citing decisions cite the case generally; a passage count includes only decisions quoting that exact language verbatim.

1. ““We afford the trial court ‘considerable latitude in adjusting financial and property interests, and its actions are entitled to a presumption of validity.’ Accordingly, changes will be made in a trial court’s property division determination in a divorce action ‘only if there was a misunderstanding or misapplication of the law resulting in substantial and prejudicial error, the evidence clearly preponderated against the findings, or such a serious inequity has resulted as to manifest a clear abuse of discretion.’ ””

   3 later decisions quote this exact passage
   e.g. Bradford v. Bradford · Finlayson v. Finlayson

2. ““In awarding alimony, appellate courts require the trial court to consider each of the following three factors: (1) the financial conditions and needs of the receiving spouse; (2) the ability of the receiving spouse to produce a sufficient income for him or herself; and (3) the ability of the responding spouse to provide support. If these three factors have been considered, we will not disturb the trial court’s alimony award unless such a serious inequity has resulted as to manifest a clear abuse of discretion. The ultimate test of an alimony award is whether the party receiving alimony will be able to support him or herself ‘as nearly as possible at the standard of living ... enjoyed during the marriage.' ””

   2 later decisions quote this exact passage
   e.g. Morgan v. Morgan · Barnes v. Barnes

3. “9. The Court finds that [Mrs. Morgan] and [Dr. Morgan] have been married for thirty-seven years and that during the marriage [Mrs. Morgan’s] role was that of homemaker, having raised five children born as issue of the marriage. After working to support the couple while [Dr. Morgan] was attending dental school, [Mrs. Morgan] has not worked outside of the home.... The Court finds that the income that will be generated to [Mrs. Morgan] from the Bel-Aire Apartments and the stocks awarded to her will not be sufficient to allow her to maintain the post-marital lifestyle that [Dr. Morgan] will be able to enjoy nor will it allow her to maintain the lifestyle and standard of living which she enjoyed during the course of the marriage. The Court finds ... that [Mrs. Morgan] has a current need for alimony in the amount of $2000 per month, which should be paid for two years from the date of entry of Decree; thereafter, alimony shall be reduced to $1,700 per month on the assumption that Dr. Morgan’s income from his dental practice is likely to decline somewhat because of his age. The Court [is] of the opinion that the only asset of the parties which [Mrs. Morgan] was able to manage and would produce income for her was the Bel-Aire Apartments. While this [is] an extremely complicated and difficult case to separate the assets of the parties, it was clear that the asset management ability of the parties and the expertise involved in financial affairs was that of [Dr. Morgan]. In view of the l”

   1 later decision quote this exact passage
   e.g. Morgan v. Morgan