In Robert J. Vandewater v. Edward Mills, the Supreme Court was asked to decide who had a valid claim of ownership over the steamship Yankee Blade and its associated tackle. The appellant, Mr. Vandewater, argued that he had purchased the vessel from an auction in 1851 and thus held title to it; however, Mr. Mills claimed that he owned it by virtue of his having been appointed as custodian for another individual's estate which included the ship in question at some point prior to 1851 when it was sold at auction without his knowledge or consent. After reviewing both parties' claims and evidence presented before them, the court ultimately found in favor of Mr. Mills due to lack of proof on behalf of Mr. Vandewater regarding his purchase date being earlier than when custody changed hands between estates - thereby making him unable to establish clear title over said vessel according to maritime law principles established by previous cases heard before them..

In the dissenting opinion of Robert J. Vandewater v. Edward Mills, Justice Curtis argued that the majority's decision was based on an incorrect interpretation of a statute and precedent set by prior cases. He believed that the court should not have granted summary judgment in favor of Mills because there were still factual issues to be resolved before determining who had rightful title to the steamship Yankee Blade. According to Curtis, it was possible for both parties to claim ownership over the vessel depending on how one interpreted certain facts related to its history and registration status at various points in time. Furthermore, he noted that even if Vandewater did not have legal title or possession of the ship when it sank, he could still recover damages from Mills as long as his interest in it predated any other claims made against it by third parties such as creditors or salvors. Ultimately, Justice Curtis concluded that this case warranted further consideration due to its complexity and potential implications for future disputes involving maritime property rights