In the case of Lay et al. v. Lay et al., 1918, the U.S Supreme Court was called upon to resolve a dispute over land ownership in Oklahoma between two parties both claiming rights under different federal statutes. The plaintiffs were members of the Choctaw and Chickasaw tribes who had received allotments of tribal lands under an Act of Congress from 1902, while the defendants claimed their rights based on homestead entries made under another Act from 1891 which opened unassigned lands for settlement. The court ruled that although both Acts were valid, they applied to different types of land - one to tribal lands and other to public or unassigned lands. Therefore, it held that since this particular piece of disputed property was part of a tribal reservation at all relevant times (and not 'unassigned' as per defendant's claim), only those with claims derived from Indian allotment could have valid title over it. Thus, by interpreting these laws within their historical context and purpose behind them i.e., protection & assimilation respectively for Native Americans into mainstream society; court upheld plaintiff’s right over said property thereby reaffirming principle that Congressional intent is paramount when resolving such conflicts involving Federal Statutes.

In the dissenting opinion for Lay et al. v. Lay et al., it was argued that the majority's decision to uphold a lower court ruling, which granted an injunction preventing certain family members from selling their shares in a family business, was incorrect. The dissenting justices believed that this case should have been treated as any other contract dispute and not given special consideration due to familial relationships involved. They contended that all shareholders, regardless of whether they are related or not, have equal rights under corporate law and should be free to sell their shares if they wish without interference from other shareholders or courts unless there is evidence of fraud or breach of fiduciary duty - neither of which were proven in this case according to them.