In Dallas County v. Huidekoper and Dallas County v. Davol, the Supreme Court of the United States was asked to decide whether a county could be held liable for damages caused by its negligence in failing to maintain a bridge over which public travel occurred. The court found that counties are not immune from liability for their own negligent acts, even if those acts were done in an official capacity or under color of law. Furthermore, it held that when a county has undertaken to construct and maintain such bridges as part of its duty to provide safe roads for public use, it is responsible for any damage resulting from its failure to do so properly. Thus, both defendants were found liable and ordered to pay damages accordingly.

In Dallas County v. Huidekoper and Dallas County v. Davol, the Supreme Court was asked to decide whether a county could be held liable for damages caused by its failure to maintain roads in a safe condition. The majority of justices ruled that counties were not responsible for such damages because they had no legal duty or obligation to do so under state law at the time of the incident giving rise to liability. However, Justice Field dissented from this opinion on two grounds: first, he argued that it was unfair and unjust for counties not to be held accountable when their negligence resulted in injury; second, he noted that states had begun enacting laws imposing duties upon counties with respect to road maintenance since the incidents occurred which would have made them liable if those statutes had been in effect at the time of occurrence. Thus, Justice Field concluded that justice demanded holding these particular defendants responsible despite there being no applicable statute at the time of occurrence requiring them do so