Cited by
Opinions in Arizona that cite Smith v. Melson, Inc., 659 P.2d 1264.
- ASSOCIATED v. CITY OF PHOENIX Ariz. Ct. App. Div. 1 2026
- ASSOCIATED v. CITY OF PHOENIX Ariz. Ct. App. Div. 1 2026
- State of Arizona v. Hon. marner/haniffa Ariz. 2026
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State of Arizona v. Hon. marner/haniffa
Ariz. 2026
¶17 As we discussed in Smith v. Melson, Inc., “[u]nlike the indefinite article ‘a,’ ‘the’ is a definite article used in reference to a particular thing.”
- JOSEPH E. TERBORG v. TOWN OF PAYSON Ariz. Ct. App. Div. 2 2025
- JOSEPH E. TERBORG v. TOWN OF PAYSON Ariz. Ct. App. Div. 2 2025
- Vande Krol v. superstition/benchmark Ariz. Ct. App. Div. 1 2025
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Vande Krol v. superstition/benchmark
Ariz. Ct. App. Div. 1 2025
See Smith v. Melson, Inc., (“Unlike the indefinite article ‘a,’ ‘the’ is a definite article used in reference to a particular thing[.]”); Nielsen v. Preap, 586 U.S. 392, 408 (2019) (“[G]rammar and usage establish that ‘the’ is a function word .
- Pruitt v. State Ariz. Ct. App. Div. 1 2025
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Pruitt v. State
Ariz. Ct. App. Div. 1 2025
“The construction of a contract is a question of law when the terms are plain and unambiguous.” Smith v. Melson, Inc., (citations omitted).
- State of Arizona v. Hon. James Marner; Hanees Mohamed Haniffa 560 P.3d 338 Ariz. Ct. App. Div. 2 2024
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State of Arizona v. Hon. James Marner; Hanees Mohamed Haniffa
560 P.3d 338
Ariz. Ct. App. Div. 2 2024
See Smith v. Melson, Inc., (“Unlike the indefinite article ‘a,’ ‘the’ is a definite article used in reference to a particular thing.”).
- Torres v. Jai Dining Services Ariz. 2023
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Torres v. Jai Dining Services
Ariz. 2023
.” Smith v. Melson, Inc.
- Mago v. Az Escrow Ariz. Ct. App. Div. 1 2021
- Mago v. Az Escrow Ariz. Ct. App. Div. 1 2021
- Otto v. Otto Ariz. Ct. App. Div. 1 2019
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Otto v. Otto
Ariz. Ct. App. Div. 1 2019
at 154 (citations omitted); see also Smith v. Melson, Inc., (“A contract should be read in light of the parties’ intentions as reflected by their language and in view of all the circumstances.”).
- Desert Mountain v. Graham Ariz. Ct. App. Div. 1 2018
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Desert Mountain v. Graham
Ariz. Ct. App. Div. 1 2018
See Smith v. Melson, Inc., (holding that “the purpose of an agreement is to be divined from the entire instrument and the surrounding circumstances”).
- Grady's v. Alliance Ariz. Ct. App. Div. 1 2018
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Grady's v. Alliance
Ariz. Ct. App. Div. 1 2018
¶13 “When interpreting an agreement, the court may always consider the surrounding circumstances and ‘the context in which it was made.’” ¶ 12 (App. 2005) (quoting Smith v. Melson, Inc., ).
- American Power Products, Inc. v. CSK Auto, Inc. 396 P.3d 600 Ariz. 2017
- Dobson Bay Club II DD, LLC v. La Sonrisa De Siena, LLC 393 P.3d 449 Ariz. 2017
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Dobson Bay Club II DD, LLC v. La Sonrisa De Siena, LLC
393 P.3d 449
Ariz. 2017
Smith v. Melson, Inc., , (“A contract should be read in light of the parties’ intentions as reflected by their language and in view of all the circumstances.”); State ex rel.
- Bentley v. Bentley Ariz. Ct. App. Div. 1 2016
- Bentley v. Bentley Ariz. Ct. App. Div. 1 2016
- Black Creek v. alanco/tsi Ariz. Ct. App. Div. 1 2015
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Black Creek v. alanco/tsi
Ariz. Ct. App. Div. 1 2015
Smith v. Melson, Inc., Grosvenor Holdings, L.C.
- County of La Paz v. Yakima Compost Co. 233 P.3d 1169 Ariz. Ct. App. Div. 1 2010
- County of La Paz v. Yakima Compost Co. 233 P.3d 1169 Ariz. Ct. App. Div. 1 2010
- Harrington v. Pulte Home Corp. 119 P.3d 1044 Ariz. Ct. App. Div. 1 2005
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Harrington v. Pulte Home Corp.
119 P.3d 1044
Ariz. Ct. App. Div. 1 2005
at 393 , 682 P.2d at 398 (quoting Smith v. Melson, Inc., , (“A contract should be read in light of the parties’ intentions as reflected by their language and in view of all the circumstances.”)).
- State v. Rivera 109 P.3d 83 Ariz. 2005
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State v. Rivera
109 P.3d 83
Ariz. 2005
See Smith v. Melson, Inc., (“The construction of a contract is a question of law where the terms of the agreement are plain and unambiguous.”); ¶ 9, (“Plea agreements are contractual in nature and subject to contract interpretation.”).
- Miller v. Hehlen 104 P.3d 193 Ariz. Ct. App. Div. 2 2005
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Miller v. Hehlen
104 P.3d 193
Ariz. Ct. App. Div. 2 2005
“When interpreting an agreement, the court may always consider the surrounding circumstances” and “the context in which it was made.” Smith v. Melson, Inc., see also Burkons v. Ticor Title Ins.
- Potter v. U.S. Specialty Insurance Co. Ariz. Ct. App. Div. 2 2004
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Potter v. U.S. Specialty Insurance Co.
Ariz. Ct. App. Div. 2 2004
Smith v. Melson, Inc., P.2d 1264 (1983).
- State Ex Rel. Goddard v. RJ Reynolds Tobacco Company 75 P.3d 1075 Ariz. Ct. App. Div. 1 2003
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State Ex Rel. Goddard v. RJ Reynolds Tobacco Company
75 P.3d 1075
Ariz. Ct. App. Div. 1 2003
A contract is not ambiguous if the parties’ intent is clear from the contract’s language and “in view of all the circumstances.”
- Harris v. Harris 991 P.2d 262 Ariz. Ct. App. Div. 1 1999
- Harris v. Harris 991 P.2d 262 Ariz. Ct. App. Div. 1 1999
- Taylor v. State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance 854 P.2d 1134 Ariz. 1993
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Taylor v. State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance
854 P.2d 1134
Ariz. 1993
Arizona view Writing for a unanimous court in Smith v. Melson, Inc., -22 , -67 (1983), Chief Justice Holohan expressly committed Arizona to the Corbin view of contract interpretation.
- Chandler Medical Building Partners v. Chandler Dental Group 855 P.2d 787 Ariz. Ct. App. Div. 1 1993
- Chandler Medical Building Partners v. Chandler Dental Group 855 P.2d 787 Ariz. Ct. App. Div. 1 1993
- Anderson v. Preferred Stock Food Markets, Inc. 854 P.2d 1194 Ariz. Ct. App. Div. 1 1993
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Anderson v. Preferred Stock Food Markets, Inc.
854 P.2d 1194
Ariz. Ct. App. Div. 1 1993
Co. of Cal., , Smith v. Melson, Inc., , American Nat.
- Shanks v. Davey Tree Surgery Co. 845 P.2d 483 Ariz. Ct. App. Div. 2 1992