The Southern Railway Company v. Reid case in 1911 revolved around a dispute over the liability of an employer for injuries sustained by an employee during work. The plaintiff, Reid, was injured while working on a construction project for the defendant, Southern Railway Company. He claimed that his injury resulted from negligence on part of the company's foreman who failed to provide him with safe tools and equipment necessary for his job. The Supreme Court ruled in favor of Reid stating that under common law principles, employers are responsible for providing their employees with safe working conditions and failure to do so constitutes negligence. Therefore, if an employee is injured due to such negligence then they have a right to compensation from their employer.

In the dissenting opinion for Southern Railway Company v. Reid, it was argued that the majority's decision to uphold a verdict against the railway company based on negligence was flawed. The dissenting justices believed there wasn't sufficient evidence presented at trial to prove that the railway company had been negligent in its duties or responsibilities. They contended that just because an accident occurred, it did not automatically mean negligence existed on part of the defendant (the railway). Furthermore, they disagreed with how much weight and credibility were given by jury members to certain testimonies during trial proceedings which heavily influenced their final decision. In conclusion, these justices felt this case set a dangerous precedent where companies could be held liable without clear proof of negligence.