Ashcroft v. Railroad Company was a United States Supreme Court case that dealt with the issue of whether a railroad company was liable for damages caused by a fire that was started by sparks from one of its locomotives. The plaintiff, Ashcroft, was a farmer whose property was damaged by the fire. He sued the railroad company for damages, claiming that the company was negligent in allowing sparks from its locomotive to ignite the fire. The Supreme Court held that the railroad company was liable for the damages caused by the fire. The Court reasoned that the company had a duty to take reasonable precautions to prevent sparks from its locomotive from igniting fires, and that it had failed to do so. The Court also held that the company was liable for the damages even though it had not been negligent in the operation of its locomotive. The Court's decision established that a railroad company is liable for damages caused by fires started by sparks from its locomotives, even if it was not negligent in the operation of its locomotive. This decision has been cited in numerous cases since then, and has been used to establish the principle that a company is liable for damages caused by its negligence, even if it was not negligent in the operation of its locomotive.

Justice Field delivered the dissenting opinion in Ashcroft v. Railroad Company, arguing that the majority's decision was contrary to both precedent and logic. He argued that a railroad company is not liable for injuries sustained by an employee who has been injured while performing their duties, even if they are negligent in providing safety equipment or instructions. Furthermore, he argued that it would be unjust to impose liability on employers when employees fail to follow safety regulations due to their own negligence or recklessness. He concluded by stating that any attempt at imposing such liability would be "an unwarrantable extension of legal principles." In short, Justice Field believed the majority had gone too far in holding railroads responsible for employee injuries caused by negligence and recklessness on behalf of those same employees.