In the case of Natural Gas Pipeline Co. v. Slattery et al., the U.S Supreme Court ruled in favor of Natural Gas Pipeline Company, reversing a decision by the Circuit Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit that had held them liable for damages following an explosion on their property which resulted in two deaths and several injuries. The plaintiffs were employees working near a natural gas pipeline when it exploded due to internal corrosion, causing severe damage and loss of life. They sued under Kansas law which allowed recovery if injury was caused by negligence or violation of safety regulations. The Supreme Court found that federal laws regulating interstate commerce preempted state law in this matter because Congress had enacted comprehensive legislation governing transportation and sale of natural gas across state lines - namely, The Natural Gas Act (NGA). Therefore, any claim against an entity like Natural Gas Pipeline Company must be based on violations under NGA rather than state laws as they argued there should not be dual regulation from both Federal Government and State Government over such matters related to interstate commerce.

The dissenting opinion in the Natural Gas Pipeline Co. v. Slattery case argued that the majority's decision was a departure from established principles of law and an unwarranted intrusion into state affairs. The dissenters believed that it was not within the purview of federal courts to interfere with or overturn decisions made by state regulatory bodies, such as those concerning utility rates, unless there were clear violations of constitutional rights involved. They contended that no such violation had occurred in this case and thus saw no reason for federal intervention. Furthermore, they expressed concern about potential negative impacts on states' abilities to regulate their own utilities if federal courts could so easily step in and override their decisions.