In the case of Colonnade Catering Corp. v. United States, 1969, the U.S Supreme Court ruled in favor of the catering company after it was subjected to a warrantless search by federal agents from Alcohol and Tobacco Tax Division (ATTD). The ATTD agents were investigating whether Colonnade had paid its wagering excise tax but did not have a search warrant when they forcibly entered and searched Colonnade's premises. The court held that this action violated the Fourth Amendment rights of protection against unreasonable searches and seizures as applied to business properties. It further stated that if Congress intended for such an intrusion without a warrant, it should explicitly state so in clear language within legislation governing these matters.

In the dissenting opinion for Colonnade Catering Corp. v. United States, it was argued that the Fourth Amendment should not be interpreted as prohibiting warrantless inspections of commercial premises where such inspections are authorized by law and are necessary to enforce regulatory statutes. The dissent emphasized that businesses engaged in activities subject to government regulation have a reduced expectation of privacy, and thus do not enjoy the same level of Fourth Amendment protections as private homes. It further contended that requiring warrants for all administrative searches would severely hamper enforcement efforts and undermine public interest in ensuring compliance with health, safety, and other regulations governing business operations.