The U.S. Supreme Court case Compagnie Internationale de Produits Alimentaires S.A. v. Miller, as Alien Property Custodian of the United States, et al., 1924 revolved around a dispute over property seized during World War I under the Trading with the Enemy Act of 1917. The plaintiff was a French corporation that had its assets confiscated by A. Mitchell Palmer, then Alien Property Custodian for the U.S government because it was believed to be owned or controlled by an enemy nation (Germany). The company sued for recovery of their properties arguing they were not "enemy-owned" but rather majority-owned by Swiss and French nationals who were neutral in WWI conflict. However, evidence showed that despite nominal ownership being non-German, actual control resided with German interests due to contractual agreements between shareholders which gave them significant influence over operations and profits distribution. The court ruled against Compagnie Internationale de Produits Alimentaires S.A., upholding seizure on grounds that effective control mattered more than formal ownership in determining whether a firm could be considered "enemy-owned". This ruling established precedent regarding interpretation of what constitutes “ownership” under Trading with Enemy Act.

The dissenting opinion in the case of Compagnie Internationale de Produits Alimentaires S.A. v. Miller, as Alien Property Custodian of the United States, et al., argued that the majority's decision was inconsistent with previous rulings and principles established by international law. The dissenting justices believed that a foreign corporation should not be treated as an enemy simply because it is owned or controlled by individuals who are citizens of enemy nations during wartime. They contended that this approach could lead to unjust results and potentially harm innocent parties who have no connection to any hostile activities against the U.S.. Furthermore, they disagreed with the majority's interpretation of relevant statutes and suggested that these laws were intended to protect American interests rather than punish foreign entities without due process.