The Supreme Court case of The Claimants and Owners of the Steamer Virginia v. Michael W. West, William T. Bell, Albert R. Heath, James J. Edwards, Thomas C Bunting and Lecato (partners under the firm of Bunting & Lecato) and John M Henderson involved a dispute over ownership rights to a steamboat named “Virginia” which had been seized by the US government during the Mexican-American War in 1846 for use as a transport vessel for troops and supplies from New Orleans to Mexico City on behalf of General Zachary Taylor's army at Monterey in northern Mexico . The claimants argued that they were entitled to compensation for their loss due to its seizure by the US government while defendants maintained that they had acquired title through legal means after it was abandoned following its return voyage from Mexico City back to New Orleans in 1848 without any payment being made or offered by them for such acquisition . After hearing both sides' arguments ,the court ruled unanimously in favor of defendants finding no evidence presented which showed any wrongful taking or conversion on their part with respect to acquiring title nor did it find sufficient proof establishing prior ownership rights held by claimants before its seizure thus affirming lower court ruling denying recovery sought against them .

In the dissenting opinion of this case, Justice Campbell argued that the steamboat Virginia was not liable for damages caused by a collision with another vessel. He reasoned that since both vessels were in motion at the time of impact, and neither had any fault or negligence on their part, then no one should be held responsible for the accident. Furthermore, he noted that there was no evidence to suggest either party acted negligently or recklessly prior to impact. Therefore, according to Justice Campbell’s reasoning it would be unjust to hold either party accountable for damages resulting from an unavoidable accident.