Stillwell and Bierce Manufacturing Company v. Phelps is a Supreme Court case from 1895. The case involved a dispute between Stillwell and Bierce Manufacturing Company and Phelps over a contract for the sale of a steam engine. The contract stated that the engine was to be delivered to Phelps within a certain time frame, but Stillwell and Bierce failed to deliver the engine on time. Phelps then sued Stillwell and Bierce for breach of contract. The Supreme Court ruled in favor of Phelps, finding that Stillwell and Bierce had breached the contract by failing to deliver the engine on time. The Court held that the contract was valid and enforceable, and that Stillwell and Bierce were liable for damages. The Court also held that Phelps was entitled to recover the cost of the engine, as well as any other damages that he had suffered as a result of the breach. The case established the principle that a contract is binding and enforceable, and that a party who breaches a contract is liable for damages. It also established the principle that a party who breaches a contract is liable for the cost of the goods or services that were the subject of the contract, as well as any other damages that the non-breaching party has suffered as a result of the breach.

In the dissenting opinion for Stillwell and Bierce Manufacturing Company v. Phelps, Justice Field argued that the majority's decision was wrongfully based on a misinterpretation of an 1872 statute. He believed that Congress had not intended to limit patent rights in this way when they passed the act, as it would have been impossible for them to anticipate all potential future cases such as this one. Furthermore, he argued that if Congress had wanted to limit patents in this manner then they would have explicitly stated so within the text of their legislation rather than leaving it open-ended like they did. As such, he concluded by stating his belief that any changes or limitations should be made through new laws instead of relying on interpretations from existing ones which could lead to unintended consequences down the line.