In the 1923 case of Brosnan, Jr., et al. v. Brosnan, the U.S Supreme Court was tasked with resolving a dispute over inheritance rights between family members. The primary issue in this case revolved around whether or not certain individuals were legally entitled to inherit property from their deceased relative's estate under California law. The court ultimately ruled that these individuals did indeed have a valid claim to the disputed property and therefore should be recognized as rightful heirs under state law.

The dissenting opinion in the Brosnan, Jr., et al. v. Brosnan case argued that the majority's decision to uphold a will that left property to an illegitimate child was incorrect and inconsistent with established legal principles. The dissenters believed that the law should not recognize or enforce rights of inheritance for children born out of wedlock, as it undermines traditional family structures and societal norms. They also expressed concern about potential fraudulent claims by individuals alleging to be illegitimate children in order to inherit property. Furthermore, they disagreed with the majority's interpretation of relevant statutes and precedent cases, arguing instead for a stricter reading of these laws which would exclude illegitimate children from inheriting under such circumstances.