Dewey v. West Fairmont Gas Coal Company was a United States Supreme Court case that addressed the issue of whether a contract between two parties was valid. The case involved a contract between the plaintiff, Dewey, and the defendant, West Fairmont Gas Coal Company. Dewey had contracted with West Fairmont to purchase coal from them, but West Fairmont refused to deliver the coal. Dewey then sued West Fairmont for breach of contract. The Supreme Court held that the contract between Dewey and West Fairmont was valid and enforceable. The Court found that the contract was supported by consideration, meaning that both parties had given something of value in exchange for the performance of the contract. The Court also found that the contract was not void for lack of mutuality, meaning that both parties had agreed to the same terms and conditions. The Court also held that West Fairmont was liable for breach of contract. The Court found that West Fairmont had failed to perform its obligations under the contract and that Dewey had suffered damages as a result. The Court ordered West Fairmont to pay Dewey the amount of damages that Dewey had suffered. In conclusion, the Supreme Court held that the contract between Dewey and West Fairmont was valid and enforceable and that West Fairmont was liable for breach of contract. The Court ordered West Fairmont to pay Dewey the amount of damages that Dewey had suffered.

In the case of Dewey v. West Fairmont Gas Coal Company, the Supreme Court was tasked with determining whether a coal company had to pay damages for an injury caused by one of its employees. The majority opinion held that since the employee was acting outside his scope of employment when he committed the act in question, and thus not under control or direction from his employer, then no liability should be imposed on said employer. However, Justice Field dissented from this ruling and argued that even if an employee is acting outside their scope of employment they can still be liable for any injuries they cause while doing so as long as it could reasonably have been foreseen by their employer that such actions might occur. He further stated that employers must take reasonable steps to ensure safety regardless of what activities are being performed at any given time; otherwise they will remain responsible for any resulting harm done due to negligence or lack thereof on behalf of those employed by them.