Railroad Companies v. Schutte was a case heard by the United States Supreme Court in 1881. The case involved a dispute between the railroad companies and Schutte, a farmer, over the right to use a certain piece of land. Schutte had been using the land for farming for many years, but the railroad companies claimed that they had acquired the right to use the land for their own purposes. The Supreme Court ruled in favor of Schutte, finding that the railroad companies had not acquired the right to use the land. The Court held that the railroad companies had not acquired the right to use the land because they had not taken the necessary steps to acquire it. The Court also held that Schutte had acquired the right to use the land through his long-term use of it for farming. The Court's decision in this case established the principle that long-term use of land can give rise to a right to use the land, even if the user does not have a formal deed or other legal document granting them the right. This principle has been applied in many subsequent cases involving disputes over the right to use land.

In Railroad Companies v. Schutte, 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 protection from an oncoming train. The majority opinion found that the railroad companies were not responsible for any damage done as they had taken reasonable steps to protect their passengers and property. However, Justice Field dissented from this decision arguing that it was wrong to absolve the railroads of all responsibility when they had failed to take sufficient precautions against foreseeable risks posed by their trains. He argued that if a person or entity is negligent in providing proper safety measures then they should be held accountable for any resulting harm regardless of how much care may have been taken beforehand. In his view, allowing such negligence would encourage recklessness among those who are expected to exercise caution and due diligence in protecting others from potential danger