In the 1907 case of Missouri Valley Land Company v. Wrich, the United States Supreme Court addressed a dispute over land ownership in Nebraska. The plaintiff, Missouri Valley Land Company, claimed that it had purchased the disputed property from an individual who held title to it under a patent issued by the state of Nebraska. However, defendant Wrich argued that he was entitled to possession because he had been occupying and improving upon this land for five years prior to its sale to Missouri Valley Land Co., as per federal law which allowed settlers on public lands in certain states (including Nebraska) rights if they improved and occupied these lands for five years or more. The court ruled in favor of Wrich stating that his claim was valid under federal law despite not having formally filed paperwork with local authorities before selling his interest to another party.

In the dissenting opinion for Missouri Valley Land Company v. Wrich, it was argued that the majority's decision to uphold a lower court ruling in favor of Wrich was incorrect. The dissenting justices believed that there were significant errors made by the trial court which should have been corrected on appeal. They contended that evidence presented at trial clearly showed an agreement between parties regarding land ownership and usage rights, contrary to what had been determined by both the trial and appellate courts. Furthermore, they disagreed with how certain statutes related to property law were interpreted in this case, arguing instead for a more traditional interpretation of these laws as they pertained to land contracts and agreements. Ultimately, their view was one of strict adherence to legal precedent and established rules governing contractual agreements over property rights.