The U.S. Supreme Court case New York Central Railroad Company v. White in 1916 revolved around the constitutionality of a workers' compensation statute in New York State, which made employers liable for injuries sustained by employees during their work regardless of negligence on either party's part. The plaintiff, the railroad company, argued that this law violated both its Fourteenth Amendment right to due process and its rights under the commerce clause. However, the court upheld the constitutionality of such laws stating they were within states’ police powers to ensure welfare and safety at workplaces without violating any constitutional provisions or federal jurisdiction over interstate commerce. This ruling was significant as it set a precedent allowing state governments to enact similar legislation protecting worker’s rights and ensuring employer liability for workplace accidents.

In the dissenting opinion for New York Central Railroad Company v. White, Justice McReynolds disagreed with the majority's view that workers' compensation laws did not violate due process rights of employers under the Fourteenth Amendment. He argued that such laws unfairly imposed liability on employers without fault, which he believed was a violation of their constitutional rights. Furthermore, he contended that these statutes were arbitrary and unreasonable as they failed to provide equal protection under law by treating different classes of employees differently based on their occupation or industry. Moreover, Justice McReynolds expressed concern over state legislatures having excessive power to regulate private industries and interfere in contractual relationships between employers and employees through workers' compensation laws.