Pennsylvania Railroad Company v. Miller was a Supreme Court case decided in 1877. The case involved a dispute between the Pennsylvania Railroad Company and Miller, a farmer who owned land adjacent to the railroad. Miller had sued the railroad for damages caused by the railroad's construction of a bridge over his land. The Supreme Court held that the railroad had the right to construct the bridge, as it was necessary for the public good. The Court also held that Miller was entitled to compensation for the damages caused by the construction of the bridge. The Court reasoned that the railroad had a duty to compensate Miller for the damages caused by the construction of the bridge, as it was necessary for the public good. The Court also held that the railroad was not liable for any other damages caused by the construction of the bridge, such as the destruction of Miller's crops or the devaluation of his land. The Court's decision established the principle that a railroad has the right to construct a bridge over private land, but must compensate the landowner for any damages caused by the construction.

In the dissenting opinion of Pennsylvania Railroad Company v. Miller, Justice Field argued that the majority had failed to consider a key factor in their decision: whether or not Miller was an employee of the railroad company at the time he was injured. According to Field, if Miller was indeed an employee then his injury should be covered by workers' compensation laws and thus would be subject to different standards than those applied in this case. He further argued that even if Miller were not considered an employee under state law, there still existed a duty on behalf of the railroad company to provide reasonable care for its passengers regardless of any contractual relationship between them. Therefore, he concluded that it should have been up to a jury—not just judges—to decide whether or not negligence occurred and what damages should be awarded as a result thereof.