The case of Richardson v. Louisville and Nashville Railroad Company in 1897 revolved around a dispute over the interpretation of an Alabama state law concerning railroad companies' liability for damages to livestock. The plaintiff, Richardson, sued the defendant, Louisville and Nashville Railroad Company after his cow was killed by one of their trains. He argued that under Alabama law at the time, railroads were liable for any damage done to livestock regardless of whether they had been negligent or not. However, the railroad company contended that this law conflicted with federal laws governing interstate commerce and thus should be considered invalid. The Supreme Court ruled in favor of the railroad company stating that while states have power to regulate local matters within their jurisdiction such as requiring fences along railways to protect against harm from wandering animals; when it comes to interstate commerce - which railroads are part - federal authority is supreme according to Constitution's Commerce Clause. Therefore if a state regulation interferes with interstate commerce (as this did by potentially increasing costs), it can be overridden by Federal Law. This ruling reinforced supremacy clause where federal laws take precedence over conflicting state laws.

In the dissenting opinion for Richardson v. Louisville and Nashville Railroad Company, Justice Harlan argued that the court majority had erred in its interpretation of Kentucky law. He contended that under Kentucky law, a railroad company could be held liable for damages if it failed to provide safe transportation for passengers' baggage as well as their persons. In this case, he believed that the plaintiff's loss was due to negligence on part of the defendant’s employees who were responsible for handling passenger luggage. Therefore, he disagreed with the majority ruling which absolved Louisville and Nashville Railroad Company from liability by interpreting state laws differently than they would have been interpreted by courts within those states themselves.