In Northern Pacific Railroad Company v. Mare, the United States Supreme Court was asked to decide whether a railroad company was liable for damages caused by a train accident. The plaintiff, Mare, was a passenger on the train when it collided with another train, resulting in serious injuries. Mare sued the railroad company, claiming that the company was negligent in its operation of the train. The Supreme Court held that the railroad company was liable for the damages caused by the accident. The Court reasoned that the railroad company had a duty to exercise reasonable care in the operation of its trains, and that it had breached this duty by failing to take proper precautions to prevent the accident. The Court also held that the railroad company was liable for the damages caused by the accident, even though the accident was caused by the negligence of another train operator. The Court's decision established that railroad companies are liable for damages caused by their negligence in the operation of their trains. This decision has been cited in numerous cases since then, and has been used to establish the legal principle that companies have a duty to exercise reasonable care in the operation of their businesses.

In Northern Pacific Railroad Company v. Mare, the Supreme Court was tasked with determining whether a railroad company could be held liable for damages caused by its negligence in failing to provide adequate fencing along its right-of-way. The majority opinion found that the railroad had no duty to fence and thus could not be held liable for any resulting injuries or property damage. Justice Field dissented from this decision, arguing that railroads should have some responsibility for ensuring safety on their premises and preventing injury or loss of life due to their negligence. He argued that while it may be difficult to determine exactly what level of care is necessary in each case, courts should at least consider imposing liability when there is evidence of gross negligence on behalf of the railroad company which results in harm or death. In his view, such an approach would help ensure greater safety standards are met by all railroads going forward and protect those who use them from potential danger posed by inadequate fencing along railway lines.