The Lower Vein Coal Company v. Industrial Board of Indiana et al., 1920, is a case that revolved around the issue of workers' compensation for coal miners who contracted nystagmus - an eye condition common in the industry. The Lower Vein Coal Company challenged the constitutionality of Indiana's Workmen’s Compensation Act which required employers to compensate employees suffering from occupational diseases. The company argued that it was not responsible for its employee developing nystagmus as there was no concrete scientific evidence linking coal mining with this disease at that time. However, the Supreme Court ruled against them stating that while absolute certainty may be unattainable in such matters, if there is reasonable ground both in fact and law – including strong medical opinion and statistical data – to believe a causal connection exists between an occupation and a disease, then it should be recognized by courts under worker's compensation laws.

In the dissenting opinion for Lower Vein Coal Company v. Industrial Board of Indiana, it was argued that the court majority had overstepped its bounds by intervening in a state matter. The dissent emphasized that states should have autonomy to regulate their own industries and protect their workers as they see fit. It was also pointed out that there were no constitutional grounds for federal intervention in this case, as the coal company's operations did not cross state lines or involve interstate commerce. Furthermore, it was contended that even if there were such grounds, the court majority had failed to provide any compelling reason why federal law should supersede state law in this instance. Thus, according to the dissenting justices, both principles of federalism and respect for states' rights demanded deference to Indiana's regulatory authority over its own coal industry.