In Vicksburg & Meridian Railroad v. O'Brien, the Supreme Court of the United States was asked to decide whether a railroad company could be held liable for damages caused by a train accident. The plaintiff, O'Brien, was a passenger on the train when it collided with another train, resulting in serious injuries to O'Brien. O'Brien sued the railroad company for negligence, claiming that the company had failed to properly maintain the tracks and had failed to provide adequate warning of the impending collision. The Supreme Court held that the railroad company was liable for O'Brien's injuries. The Court found that the railroad company had a duty to maintain the tracks in a safe condition and to provide adequate warning of any potential danger. The Court also held that the railroad company had breached its duty of care by failing to do so, and that this breach of duty was the proximate cause of O'Brien's injuries. The Court concluded that the railroad company was liable for O'Brien's damages and awarded him a judgment in his favor.

In Vicksburg & Meridian Railroad v. O'Brien, the Supreme Court was asked to determine whether a railroad company could be held liable for damages caused by its negligence in failing to properly secure and maintain a bridge over which it operated trains. The majority opinion of the court found that the railroad was not liable because there had been no contract between it and O’Brien, who suffered injury as a result of his train falling through an unsecured bridge. Justice Field dissented from this decision on two grounds: firstly, he argued that under common law principles of liability, one should be responsible for any damage they cause due to their own negligence; secondly, he argued that even if there had been no contract between them at all times prior to the accident occurring – as contended by the majority – then still some form of responsibility must attach itself when such an incident occurs due to lack of proper maintenance or care taken with respect to property owned or used by another party (in this case being O’Brien). In conclusion therefore Justice Field concluded that regardless of contractual obligations existing between parties before an incident occurred - where someone is injured due solely or partly attributable negligent acts committed by another person - then those persons should bear responsibility for such injuries sustained.