Also known as: sees · seeing · seen · cf. · see also · see generally
Written by attorneys · grounded in primary & secondary sources — see below
A citation signal used in legal writing to indicate that the cited authority supports the proposition asserted, though it may not be the most direct or controlling source on the point.
Judge Sierra Santos receives a request from her sister to draft a will. In an internal memorandum analyzing whether she may assist, Santos writes that a judge must not serve as family counsel in any forum and cites the governing standard with the signal see followed by the rule citation. The memorandum concludes that compensated representation is forbidden even though uncompensated document review is permitted.
Simone Sanders, domiciled in State A, contracts to sell land located in State B to Stephen Shaw. In a choice-of-law memorandum, counsel notes that the most significant relationship test governs interests in the land and supports the analysis with see followed by the relevant Restatement section. The memorandum concludes that State B's local law controls the capacity issue while State A's procedural rules govern the forum's administration of the case.
Select any source to read its text and confirm it supports the definition.
Sophia Singh and Santiago Sanchez orally agree to a one-year services contract. Singh later signs a memorandum that omits Sanchez's signature. In a motion to dismiss, Singh's counsel argues the contract is unenforceable against the nonsigner and supports the proposition with see followed by the Restatement rule on partial signatures. The court grants the motion as to Sanchez but denies it as to Singh.
Samantha Stone collapses in a public park. A bystander, without consent, performs CPR that saves her life. In a later battery suit, defense counsel asserts that implied consent or privilege applies in emergencies and supports the argument with see followed by the Restatement illustrations on unconscious patients. The court grants summary judgment for the defendant.
Starlight Media, a State A corporation, transfers chattels located in State B. In a brief addressing capacity to transfer, counsel argues that different issues may be governed by different states' laws and supports the selective approach with see followed by the Restatement comment on issue-by-issue analysis. The court applies State B law to capacity while using forum law for pleading requirements.
Sterling Dynamics orally agrees to sell equipment to Sierra Solutions. Two weeks later Sterling signs a confirming letter. In opposition to a statute-of-frauds defense, Sierra's counsel contends that a later writing satisfies the statute and supports the timing argument with see followed by the Restatement rule permitting subsequent memoranda. The court denies the motion to dismiss.
Use see when the cited authority supports the proposition but is not the most direct statement of the rule. No signal is reserved for sources that directly state the point or are quoted in the preceding sentence.
No. Both signals indicate support. Accord is used when the cited case directly agrees with a decision already identified, while see simply directs the reader to supportive authority without that comparative function.
Yes. A writer may place see before the first citation in a string when that source supports the proposition and additional sources provide further support or illustration.
No. See generally is the signal for background material. See is reserved for authority that actually supports the stated proposition.
…them they might state objections to each particular question if any. Mr. Wagner testified he could not recollect whether he had seen any commission in the office constituting the applicants justices of the peace; that Mr. Marbury and Mr. Ramsay called on the Secretary who referred them to Wagner; Wagner took them into…