Thompson v. Allen County & Others is a United States Supreme Court case that was decided in 1895. The case involved a dispute between the Allen County Board of Commissioners and the Thompson family over the ownership of a piece of land. The Thompsons claimed that they had purchased the land from the county in 1871, but the county argued that the sale was invalid because the county had not received the full purchase price. The Supreme Court ruled in favor of the Thompsons, finding that the county had accepted the purchase price and that the sale was valid. The Court also held that the county was estopped from denying the validity of the sale, as it had accepted the purchase price and had not taken any action to challenge the sale. The Court further held that the Thompsons had acquired a valid title to the land and that the county was not entitled to any compensation for the land. The Court also held that the Thompsons were entitled to damages for the county's wrongful refusal to recognize their title to the land.

Justice Field delivered the dissenting opinion in Thompson v. Allen County & Others, arguing that the majority's decision was contrary to established precedent and would lead to a dangerous expansion of federal power. He argued that Congress had no authority under the Constitution to pass legislation granting citizens access to state courts for civil rights claims, as this would be an unconstitutional interference with states' rights. Furthermore, he noted that such a law could potentially open up all state court proceedings to federal review and scrutiny - something which was not intended by either Congress or the framers of the Constitution. In conclusion, Justice Field argued that while it is important for individuals who have been wronged by their government to seek redress through legal means, doing so must remain within constitutional bounds; allowing Congress unlimited authority over state court proceedings goes beyond those bounds and should therefore be rejected.