The Supreme Court case of Charles Richardson and Others, Claimants of the Barque Tangier v. David Goddard and Others was a dispute between two parties over ownership rights to a ship called the Barque Tangier. The claimants argued that they had purchased the vessel from its former owners in good faith without knowledge of any prior liens or encumbrances on it, while Goddard and his associates maintained that their lien against the vessel predated this purchase. After hearing both sides' arguments, Chief Justice Taney ruled in favor of Goddard's group due to their superior title claim as creditors who held an earlier lien on the ship than those who bought it later. He also noted that since there were no laws at that time governing such disputes involving maritime vessels, he could not rule for either party based solely on equity considerations but instead must rely upon established legal principles when making his decision.

In the dissenting opinion of Charles Richardson and Others, Claimants of the Barque Tangier v. David Goddard and Others, Justice Grier argued that a maritime lien should be recognized in this case. He reasoned that since the claimants had provided necessary supplies to keep the vessel afloat during its voyage, they were entitled to compensation for their services rendered. Furthermore, he noted that it was not uncommon for such liens to exist in other countries and thus should also be recognized by American courts as well. In conclusion, Justice Grier believed that if these claims were denied then there would be no incentive for individuals or companies to provide goods or services at sea which could potentially lead to disastrous consequences down the line.