4 canonical passages across 4 cases, quoted by 291 opinions in total. These passages cluster together because the same opinions keep quoting them side by side — they state parts of one doctrine. The anchor passage is from Linda Sue Archibeque v. Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway Company.
| # | Case | Flag | Canonical passage | Citers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Linda Sue Archibeque v. Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway Company Anchor | green | “etermining the correct sanction is a fact specific inquiry that the district court is in the best position to make.” | 117 |
| 2 | Lee v. Max Intern., LLC | green | “the ehrenhaus factors are simply a non-exclusive list of sometimes-helpful 'criteria' or guide posts the district court may wish to 'consider' in the exercise of what must always be a discretionary function.” | 100 |
| 3 | Carl E. Bills, in His Capacity as Personal Representative of the Estate of A. Larue Lamb v. The United States of America | green | “dismissal for failure to prosecute is a recognized standard operating procedure in order to clear the deadwood from the courts' calendars where there has been prolonged and unexcused delay.” | 38 |
| 4 | Olsen v. Mapes | green | “although the language of rule 41(b) requires that the file a motion to dismiss, the rule has long been interpreted to permit courts to dismiss actions sua sponte for a failure to prosecute or comply with . . . court orders.” | 36 |
A red or yellow flag on a member means the underlying case has negative treatment — for those, check the case page before relying on the passage.