Pollard v. Railroad Company was a case heard by the United States Supreme Court in 1879. The case involved a dispute between Pollard, a railroad company, and the Railroad Company. Pollard had been hired by the Railroad Company to construct a bridge over a river. Pollard had completed the bridge, but the Railroad Company refused to pay him for his work. Pollard sued the Railroad Company for breach of contract. The Supreme Court held that the Railroad Company was liable for breach of contract. The Court found that the Railroad Company had entered into a contract with Pollard and had failed to fulfill its obligations under the contract. The Court also held that the Railroad Company was liable for damages for the breach of contract. The Court's decision in Pollard v. Railroad Company established that a party who enters into a contract and fails to fulfill its obligations is liable for damages. This decision has been cited in numerous cases since then, and it remains an important precedent in contract law.

Justice Field delivered the dissenting opinion in Pollard v. Railroad Company, arguing that the majority's decision was contrary to established precedent and would have a detrimental effect on public policy. He argued that under existing law, when an individual owns land abutting a navigable river or stream, they are entitled to exclusive use of its waters for purposes such as fishing and navigation. The majority had held that this right did not extend to individuals whose property bordered non-navigable streams; however Justice Field maintained that it should be extended regardless of whether the waterway is navigable or not since both types of waterways can provide similar benefits. Furthermore, he argued that denying these rights could lead to monopolization by large companies who own multiple properties along rivers and streams which would ultimately harm society at large by limiting access to resources like fish stocks for recreational fishermen.