In the case of Chicago Great Western Railroad Company v. Basham, Administrator of Spellman in 1918, the U.S Supreme Court ruled on a dispute involving an accident that resulted in the death of an employee working for Chicago Great Western Railroad Company. The deceased's administrator filed a lawsuit against the company under Iowa state law and won damages at trial court level. However, upon appeal to higher courts including ultimately to the Supreme Court, it was determined that federal law should have been applied instead as per Federal Employers' Liability Act (FELA). This act provided more protection for railroad workers across states than individual state laws did. Therefore, this ruling established precedence that FELA superseded any conflicting state laws regarding liability in railway worker accidents or deaths.

In the dissenting opinion for the case of Chicago Great Western Railroad Company v. Basham, it was argued that there was no evidence to support a finding of negligence on part of the railroad company. The dissenting justices believed that Spellman's death could not be directly attributed to any negligent act by the railroad company or its employees. They contended that Spellman had been warned about potential danger and chose to ignore those warnings, thus assuming risk himself. Furthermore, they disagreed with majority’s interpretation of Federal Employers' Liability Act (FELA), arguing it did not intend to hold employers liable in absence of proven negligence. Therefore, they felt ruling against the railroad company set a dangerous precedent where companies would be held responsible for accidents even when precautions were taken and warnings given.