elementary rule (Massachusetts) · Go Syfert
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elementary rule in Massachusetts

48 Massachusetts opinions name it 5 courts 1880–2025 3 in the last five years

The cases below were cited by Massachusetts courts in a sentence that names this issue. Sides come from how each citing opinion treated the case (Syfertize flag on that citation), so a case can appear on both: that is where the law is contested. A red or yellow chip is the case's own overall treatment.

Followed or applied (12)

CaseFollowedCited
Rocci v. Massachusetts Accident Co.green
· 1916 · cited in 5 Massachusetts opinions naming this issue, 1928–2024
2 sentences

2024"It is an elementary rule in the interpretation of contracts that whenever reasonably practicable every word shall be given effect," Rocci v. Mass. Accident Co., 222 Mass. 336, 343 (1916), "and a reading of a contract which gives a reasonable meaning to all [its] provisions . . . is . . . preferred to one which leaves a part useless or inexplicable" (quotation and citation omitted).

2000See Rocci v. Massachusetts Accident Co., 222 Mass. 336, 344 (1916) (Rugg, C.J.) (“It is an elementary rule in the interpretation of contracts that whenever reasonably practicable every word shall be given effect.

35
Hagerty v. Myersgreen
mass · 1955 · cited in 2 Massachusetts opinions naming this issue, 1992–2013
2 sentences

2013“It is an elementary rule in the interpretation of contracts that whenever reasonably practicable every word shall be given effect.” Hagerty v. Myers, supra, quoting Rocci v. Massachusetts Acc. Co., supra. DeWolfe’s construction of the exculpatory clause plainly gives effect to the phrase “or previously made in writing.” Under the defendants’ construction, by contrast, the meaning of the clause is the same whether or not the phrase is included, and that construction therefore gives the phrase no effect.

1992“It is an elementary rule in the interpreta tion of contracts that whenever reasonably practicable every word shall be given effect.” Hagerty v. Myers, 333 Mass. 387, 388 (1955), quoting from Rocci v. Massachusetts Acc. Co., 222 Mass. 336, 343 (1916).

12
Freelander v. G. & K. REALTY CORP.green
mass · 1970 · cited in 1 Massachusetts opinions naming this issue, 2025–2025
1 sentence

2025Realty Corp., 357 Mass. 512, 516 (1970), and IPI provides no compelling reason to deviate from this principle.

11
Kingstown Corp. v. Black Cat Cranberry Corp.green
massappct · 2005 · cited in 1 Massachusetts opinions naming this issue, 2024–2024
1 sentence

2024Kingstown Corp. v. Black Cat Cranberry Corp., 65 Mass. App. Ct. 154, 158 (2005).

11
Commonwealth v. Martinezgreen
mass · 1997 · cited in 1 Massachusetts opinions naming this issue, 2019–2019
2 sentences

2019See also Commonwealth v. Martinez , 425 Mass. 382 , 398-399, 681 N.E.2d 818 (1997) (one person's guilty plea may not be used to prove guilt of another); Commonwealth v. Tilley , 327 Mass. 540 , 548, 99 N.E.2d 749 (1951) (art. 12 of Massachusetts Declaration of Rights prohibits use of criminal conviction against another party to establish truth of any fact involved in conviction). 9 "[I]t is an elementary principle of justice, that one [person] shall not be affected by another's act or omission, to which he is a stranger." Elisha , supra at 461.

2019See also Commonwealth v. Martinez , 425 Mass. 382 , 398-399, 681 N.E.2d 818 (1997) (one person's guilty plea may not be used to prove guilt of another); Commonwealth v. Tilley , 327 Mass. 540 , 548, 99 N.E.2d 749 (1951) (art. 12 of Massachusetts Declaration of Rights prohibits use of criminal conviction against another party to establish truth of any fact involved in conviction). 9 "[I]t is an elementary principle of justice, that one [person] shall not be affected by another's act or omission, to which he is a stranger." Elisha , supra at 461.

11
Riley v. Presnellgreen
mass · 1991 · cited in 1 Massachusetts opinions naming this issue, 2014–2014
1 sentence

2014See Riley v. Presnell, 409 Mass. 239, 242 (1991).

11
JRY CORP. v. LeRouxgreen
massappct · 1984 · cited in 1 Massachusetts opinions naming this issue, 1992–1992
1 sentence

1992See also JRY Corp. v. LeRoux, 18 Mass. App. Ct. 153, 159-160 (1984).

11
Union Old Lowell National Bank v. Painegreen
mass · 1945 · cited in 1 Massachusetts opinions naming this issue, 1991–1991
1 sentence

1991Dolan v. Boston & Maine R.R., 328 Mass. 532, 535 (1952); Union Old Lowell Nat'l Bk. v. Paine, 318 Mass. 313, 324-325 (1945); Newlin v. New Eng.

11
Dolan v. Boston & Maine Railroadgreen
mass · 1952 · cited in 1 Massachusetts opinions naming this issue, 1991–1991
1 sentence

1991Dolan v. Boston & Maine R.R., 328 Mass. 532, 535 (1952); Union Old Lowell Nat'l Bk. v. Paine, 318 Mass. 313, 324-325 (1945); Newlin v. New Eng.

11
Tobey v. McFarlingreen
mass · 1874 · cited in 1 Massachusetts opinions naming this issue, 1960–1960
1 sentence

1960See Tobey v. McFarlin, 115 Mass. 98 G.

11
Comerford v. Meiergreen
mass · 1939 · cited in 1 Massachusetts opinions naming this issue, 1939–1939
11
Epstein v. Epsteingreen
mass · 1934 · cited in 1 Massachusetts opinions naming this issue, 1935–1935
11

Distinguished, questioned or overruled (0)

CaseNegativeCited
No negative-treatment citations attached to this issue in Massachusetts. Read the followed side critically anyway.

Also cited on this issue (38)

CaseCitedYears
Drew v. Beard green
mass · 1871
2 sentences

1941“It is an elementary rule of equity pleading, that the bill must contain a clear and exact statement of all the material facts upon which the plaintiff’s right to the relief sought depends, and that he can only introduce evidence of such facts as are thus stated.” Drew v. Beard, 107 Mass. 64, 73 .

1939“A bill of this nature [as in the case at bar] on a legal cause of action should set out the cause of action as specifically as is required in an action at law,” Sandford v. Wright, 164 Mass. 85, 87 , and “‘It is an elementary rule of equity pleading, that the bill must contain a clear and exact statement of all the material facts upon which the plaintiff’s right to the relief sought depends, and that he can only introduce evidence of such facts as are thus stated.’ Drew v. Beard, 107 Mass. 64, 73 .” Arnold v. Maxwell, 223 Mass. 47, 48 .

41924–1941
Zuckernik v. Jordan Marsh Co. green
mass · 1935
2 sentences

1971The exception to this finding of fact “viólateos] the elementary rule that exceptions to a master’s report cannot avail unless the error is made to appear upon the face of the report itself.” Zuckernik v. Jordan Marsh Co. 290 Mass. 151, 155 .

1942Zuckernick v. Jordan Marsh Co. 290 Mass. 151, 155 .

31937–1971
Commonwealth v. McDermott green
mass · 1964
2 sentences

1972Commonwealth *387 v. McDermott, 347 Mass. 246 . [3] In the instant case the police were not aware of the theft reported to station 9 nor were they engaged in a cooperative effort with officers in connection with the stolen bonds who did have this knowledge.

1972Common wealth v. McDermott, 347 Mass. 246 . 3 In the instant case the police were not aware of the theft reported to station 9 nor were they engaged in a cooperative effort with officers in connection with the stolen bonds who did have this knowledge.

21966–1972
Brown v. Neelon green
mass · 1957
2 sentences

1972L. c. 231 A, § 1, that an “actual controversy” be “specifically set forth in the pleadings.” “It is an elementary rule of equity pleading that the bill must contain a clear and exact statement of all the material facts upon which the plaintiff’s right to relief sought depends in order that the defendant may answer fully and fairly and know what he will be called upon to meet. . . . ‘Averments of crucial facts in a pleading should be clear, direct and unequivocal.’ ” Brown v. Neelon, supra, 361 .

1972“It is an elementary rule of equity pleading that the bill must contain a clear and exact statement of all the material *205 facts upon which the plaintiff’s right to relief sought depends in order that the defendant may answer fully and fairly and know what he will be called upon to meet.” Brown v. Neelon, 335 Mass. 357, 361 , and cases cited.

21972–1972
Grise v. Rieutord green
mass · 1940
2 sentences

1971Grise v. Rieutord, 305 Mass. 61, 64 .

1957Grise v. Rieutord, 305 Mass. 61, 64 .

21957–1971
Iannelle v. Fire Commissioner of Boston green
mass · 1954
2 sentences

1962Iannelle v. Fire Commr. of Boston, 331 Mass. 250, 253 .

1958Iannelle v. Fire Commr. of Boston, 331 Mass. 250, 253 .

21958–1962
Arnold v. Maxwell green
· 1916
2 sentences

1947Arnold v. Maxwell, 223 Mass. 47, 48 .

1939“A bill of this nature [as in the case at bar] on a legal cause of action should set out the cause of action as specifically as is required in an action at law,” Sandford v. Wright, 164 Mass. 85, 87 , and “‘It is an elementary rule of equity pleading, that the bill must contain a clear and exact statement of all the material facts upon which the plaintiff’s right to the relief sought depends, and that he can only introduce evidence of such facts as are thus stated.’ Drew v. Beard, 107 Mass. 64, 73 .” Arnold v. Maxwell, 223 Mass. 47, 48 .

21939–1947
Richards v. Attleborough Branch Railroad green
mass · 1891
1 sentence

2021Co., 153 Mass. 120 , 122 (1891). "[I]t is an elementary principle of law, that a person cannot grant or convey property of which he is not possessed, and to which he has no title." Gardner v. Hooper, 69 Mass. 398 , 400 (1855).

12021–2021
Gardner v. Hooper neutral
mass · 1855
1 sentence

2021Co., 153 Mass. 120 , 122 (1891). "[I]t is an elementary principle of law, that a person cannot grant or convey property of which he is not possessed, and to which he has no title." Gardner v. Hooper, 69 Mass. 398 , 400 (1855).

12021–2021
Kirby v. United States green
scotus · 1899
2 sentences

2019In Kirby , 174 U.S. at 53 -55 , 19 S.Ct. 574 , the United States Supreme Court reached the same result.

2019In Kirby , 174 U.S. at 53 -55 , 19 S.Ct. 574 , the United States Supreme Court reached the same result.

12019–2019
Commonwealth v. Tilley green
mass · 1951
2 sentences

2019See also Commonwealth v. Martinez , 425 Mass. 382 , 398-399, 681 N.E.2d 818 (1997) (one person's guilty plea may not be used to prove guilt of another); Commonwealth v. Tilley , 327 Mass. 540 , 548, 99 N.E.2d 749 (1951) (art. 12 of Massachusetts Declaration of Rights prohibits use of criminal conviction against another party to establish truth of any fact involved in conviction). 9 "[I]t is an elementary principle of justice, that one [person] shall not be affected by another's act or omission, to which he is a stranger." Elisha , supra at 461.

2019See also Commonwealth v. Martinez , 425 Mass. 382 , 398-399, 681 N.E.2d 818 (1997) (one person's guilty plea may not be used to prove guilt of another); Commonwealth v. Tilley , 327 Mass. 540 , 548, 99 N.E.2d 749 (1951) (art. 12 of Massachusetts Declaration of Rights prohibits use of criminal conviction against another party to establish truth of any fact involved in conviction). 9 "[I]t is an elementary principle of justice, that one [person] shall not be affected by another's act or omission, to which he is a stranger." Elisha , supra at 461.

12019–2019
LaLonde v. LaLonde green
massappct · 1990
1 sentence

1995It is an elementary principle that “appellate review may proceed only from a final judgment.” Lalonde v. Lalonde, 28 Mass. App. Ct. 969 (1990).

11995–1995
Little v. Heimlich green
massdistctapp · 1980
1 sentence

1983Little v. Heimlich, 1980 Mass. App. Div. 122 and cases cited.

11983–1983
Commonwealth v. Ballou green
mass · 1966
2 sentences

1972We cannot, in the circumstances of this case, apply "the elementary rule of composite knowledge of police officers engaged in a cooperative effort, where the knowledge of one may be the knowledge of all." Commonwealth v. Ballou, 350 Mass. 751, 757 .

1972We cannot, in the circumstances of this case, apply “the elementary rule of composite knowledge of police officers engaged in a cooperative effort, where the knowledge of one may be the knowledge of all.” Commonwealth v. Ballou, 350 Mass. 751, 757 .

11972–1972
Chopelas v. Chopelas green
mass · 1939
1 sentence

1971Chopelas v. Chopelas, 303 Mass. 33, 36 .

11971–1971
Frizzell v. Metropolitan Coal Co. green
mass · 1937
1 sentence

1965This is the elementary rule (Frizzell v. Metropolitan Coal Co. 298 Mass. 189, 191 , and cases cited) and is assumed by all the parties in the cases at bar.

11965–1965
Pioneer Steel Erectors, Inc. v. Commonwealth green
mass · 1962
1 sentence

1965Pioneer Steel Erectors, Inc. v. Commonwealth, 344 Mass. 195, 200 .

11965–1965
Madden v. Secretary of the Commonwealth green
mass · 1958
1 sentence

1965We note at the outset that “[i]t is an elementary principle that mandamus will not lie where there is available another and effective remedy.” Madden v. Secretary of the Commonwealth, 337 Mass. 758, 761 .

11965–1965
Commonwealth v. Aronson green
mass · 1942
1 sentence

1962Commonwealth v. Aronson, 312 Mass. 347, 351-352 ) we cannot say that the finding of an intent to deceive was without sound evidential basis.

11962–1962
County of Essex v. City of Newburyport green
mass · 1926
1 sentence

1958County of Essex v. Newburyport, 254 Mass. 232, 237 .

11958–1958
Leventhal v. Jennings green
mass · 1942
11949–1949
Carson v. Gikas green
mass · 1947
11947–1947
Seder v. Kozlowski green
mass · 1939
11942–1942
Chinese American Restaurant Corp. v. Finigan neutral
mass · 1930
11941–1941
Fuller v. Lovell green
mass · 1939
11940–1940
Sandford v. Wright green
mass · 1895
11939–1939
National Rockland Bank v. Johnston green
mass · 1937
11939–1939
Bumpus v. Church green
mass · 1939
11939–1939
Baush Machine Tool Co. v. Hill green
· 1918
11935–1935
Lawrence v. Rosenberg green
ca10 · 1921
11932–1932
Moss v. Old Colony Trust Co. green
mass · 1923
11932–1932
Garfield & Proctor Coal Co. v. New York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad neutral
mass · 1924
11930–1930
Low v. Pew green
mass · 1871
11927–1927
Malden & Melrose Gas Light Co. v. Chandler neutral
mass · 1911
11924–1924
Pickard v. Clancy green
· 1916
11924–1924
Williams v. Inhabitants of Winthrop neutral
· 1913
11919–1919
Bjornquist v. Boston & Albany Railroad neutral
mass · 1904
11905–1905
Gold v. Eddy neutral
· 1804
11880–1880

Where else courts name it

CA 301 (1889–2026) TX 180 (1876–2026) GA 147 (1899–2022) IL 143 (1873–2026) NY 141 (1833–2019) CT 86 (1835–2025) IN 85 (1879–2024) PA 78 (1834–2021) FL 76 (1899–2025) NC 70 (1824–2026) KY 63 (1891–2026) WI 63 (1875–2022) MO 55 (1881–2024) IA 55 (1863–2023) VA 54 (1851–2025) MD 54 (1906–2022) MI 53 (1888–2026) TN 52 (1875–2025) AL 51 (1874–2022) WV 50 (1884–2024) MA 48 (1880–2025) AR 47 (1898–2024) LA 47 (1908–2009) OK 46 (1900–2007) MT 42 (1893–2017) WA 41 (1891–2025) KS 39 (1916–2021) ME 37 (1851–2022) OR 33 (1887–2015) NE 32 (1892–2019) MS 29 (1895–2023) HI 29 (1902–2026) MN 28 (1888–2015) OH 27 (1881–2020) CO 26 (1894–2010) NJ 25 (1867–2025) UT 23 (1899–2013) SD 19 (1894–2026) SC 19 (1907–2018) ID 17 (1909–2023) DE 16 (1932–2020) AZ 15 (1903–2009) ND 13 (1898–2020) NM 12 (1907–2023) WY 12 (1930–2014) VT 10 (1865–1986) NH 10 (1860–2016) NV 9 (1913–2015) RI 6 (1895–2017) AK 6 (1985–2023) DC 6 (1948–2013) PR 3 (1904–1939) VI 2 (1984–2007)

Opinions by the citing court's state. A doctrine retained in one state and abandoned in another shows up here as a year span that stalls.

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