In Atlantic Delaine Company v. James, the Supreme Court of the United States was asked to decide whether a contract between two parties was valid and enforceable. The plaintiff, Atlantic Delaine Company, had entered into a contract with the defendant, James, to purchase a certain quantity of cotton. The contract specified that the cotton was to be delivered to the plaintiff at a certain price. The defendant failed to deliver the cotton as agreed, and the plaintiff sued for breach of contract. The Supreme Court held that the contract was valid and enforceable. The Court noted that the contract was clear and unambiguous, and that the parties had agreed to all of its terms. The Court also noted that the defendant had failed to perform his obligations under the contract, and that the plaintiff was entitled to damages for the breach. The Court concluded that the contract was valid and enforceable, and that the plaintiff was entitled to damages for the breach. The Court also noted that the defendant was liable for any costs incurred by the plaintiff in enforcing the contract.

Justice Field delivered the dissenting opinion in Atlantic Delaine Company v. James, arguing that the majority's decision was wrongfully decided and should be reversed. He argued that a contract between two parties is binding upon them both and cannot be altered or changed without their mutual consent. In this case, he believed there was an implied agreement between the plaintiff and defendant to pay for goods received by installments over time, which had been accepted by both parties until payment became due on one of those installments. The defendant then refused to make any further payments unless certain conditions were met first; however, Justice Field argued that such conditions could not lawfully be imposed after acceptance of delivery of goods as it would amount to changing terms of an already existing contract without either party’s consent. Therefore, he concluded that since no new agreement had been made between the plaintiff and defendant regarding payment for these goods, they must abide by their original arrangement as agreed upon when they entered into it originally - thus requiring full payment from the defendant with interest according to its terms regardless of any other conditions being met first before doing so.