In Robert Chinoweth, James Tracy and Thomas Wilmouth v. The Lessee of Benjamin Haskell and Others, the Supreme Court was asked to decide whether a lessee could be held liable for damages caused by his negligence in failing to repair a bridge on his property. The plaintiffs argued that they had been injured when their horses fell through an unrepaired bridge owned by the defendant's lessee. They sought compensation for their injuries from both the owner of the land and its lessee. The court found that while it was true that a landlord is generally not responsible for any damage done by his tenant, this case presented an exception because it involved personal injury resulting from negligence in maintaining public roads or bridges which are part of common law duties imposed upon landowners regardless of tenancy status. As such, the court ruled that both parties were liable for damages incurred due to their failure to maintain safe conditions on public roads or bridges under their control; thus affirming judgment against both defendants in favor of plaintiffs' recovery costs associated with personal injury suffered as result thereof

In this case, the plaintiffs argued that they were entitled to a portion of land in Indiana which had been granted by Congress to Benjamin Haskell. The defendants argued that the grant was void because it did not comply with certain requirements under federal law. The Supreme Court disagreed and held that the grant was valid despite its noncompliance with federal law. In his dissenting opinion, Justice Story argued that although there may have been some irregularities in how the grant was made, these irregularities should not invalidate an otherwise validly executed deed from Congress. He further noted that if such grants could be voided for minor technicalities then no one would ever feel secure in their title or possession of any property obtained through congressional grants.