In Buncombe County Commissioners & Others v. Tommey & Others, the Supreme Court of the United States was asked to decide whether a county could be held liable for damages caused by its failure to maintain a public road in good condition. The court found that counties are not immune from liability when they fail to keep their roads in proper repair and safe for travel. Furthermore, it determined that if a county fails to fulfill its duty of maintaining public roads, then it can be held responsible for any injuries or losses suffered as a result of such negligence. This case established an important precedent regarding local government's responsibility towards citizens' safety on public roads and highways throughout the country.

In Buncombe County Commissioners & Others v. Tommey & Others, the Supreme Court was asked to decide whether a county in North Carolina had the authority to levy taxes on property owned by non-residents of that state. The majority opinion held that such taxation was unconstitutional and violated the privileges and immunities clause of Article IV of the United States Constitution. However, Justice Field dissented from this ruling, arguing that it would be unfair for states to have no power over non-resident owners who benefit from their services without paying any taxes towards them. He argued further that if states were not allowed to tax these individuals then they could not raise revenue needed for public works or other necessary expenses related thereto; thus depriving them of an important source of income which is essential for their survival as independent entities within our federal system. In conclusion, he believed that allowing counties like Buncombe County in North Carolina to impose taxes on out-of-state residents did not violate any constitutional provisions but rather provided a fair way for those individuals who benefited from local services while living elsewhere at least some contribution towards supporting those same services through taxation.