This Supreme Court case involves the libellants and appellants, Moses C. Mordecai, Isaac E. Hertz, Joseph A. Enslow, and Isaac R. Mordecai carrying on business under the name of Mordecai & Co., versus W & N Lindsay owners of the schooner Mary Eddy her tackle etc.. The dispute arose when a shipment of goods was sent from New York to Savannah by way of Charleston in 1855 aboard the Mary Eddy which were damaged due to improper stowage while en route resulting in a claim for damages being made against W & N Lindsay who owned the vessel at that time. The lower court found for respondents but this decision was appealed with Libellants arguing that they should be compensated as Respondents had failed to properly care for their cargo during transport according to maritime law principles established by Congress at that time and therefore should bear responsibility for any losses incurred as a result thereof . After considering all arguments presented before it ,the Supreme Court reversed judgement finding in favor of Libellants awarding them $3200 plus costs associated with bringing suit against Respondents

In the dissenting opinion of this case, Justice Nelson argued that the libellants should have been awarded damages for their losses. He believed that the schooner Mary Eddy had acted negligently in failing to take proper precautions when navigating through a known hazardous area and thus was responsible for any damage caused by its actions. Furthermore, he noted that even if there were some contributory negligence on behalf of Mordecai & Co., it did not absolve the owners of Mary Eddy from liability as they still had an obligation to exercise reasonable care while navigating through dangerous waters. As such, Justice Nelson concluded that Mordecai & Co.'s losses should be compensated and urged his fellow justices to reverse the decision made by lower courts denying them damages.