The Coleman v. United States case in 1918 revolved around the death of a railroad worker, Mr. Coleman, who was killed while on duty due to alleged negligence by his employer - the railway company which was owned by the U.S government at that time. Mrs. Coleman, as surviving administratrix of her husband's estate, sued for damages under Federal Employers' Liability Act (FELA). The main issue before the Supreme Court was whether FELA applied to employees of railroads controlled by the federal government during World War I or if it only applied to private employers. The court ruled in favor of Mrs. Coleman stating that even though there were no explicit provisions within FELA covering employees working for federally-controlled railroads during wartime; however, such workers should be considered within its scope given Congress’s intent when passing this law and because they faced similar risks like those employed with privately-owned companies. This decision established an important precedent regarding employee rights and protections under federal laws irrespective of their employment with public or private entities.

In the dissenting opinion for Coleman v. United States, Justice Holmes argued that the plaintiff should not be barred from seeking compensation due to a technicality in filing procedures. He believed that Mrs. Coleman had filed her claim within a reasonable time frame after learning of her husband's death and thus should have been allowed to proceed with her case against the government. Holmes contended that it was unjust to deny someone their day in court based on an arbitrary deadline when they were unaware of such requirements or unable to meet them due to circumstances beyond their control, such as grief or lack of legal knowledge. The justice emphasized compassion and fairness over strict adherence to procedural rules.