In the case of Western Union Telegraph Company v. Ann Arbor Railroad Company, 1899, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of Western Union Telegraph Co., stating that a telegraph company has an obligation to deliver messages with reasonable speed and accuracy. The dispute arose when a message was sent via Western Union from New York to Michigan but was not delivered promptly due to negligence on part of the receiving operator at Ann Arbor Railroad Co. As a result, the sender suffered financial loss as he could not act upon information contained in the telegram within time. The court held that telegraph companies are liable for damages if they fail to transmit or deliver messages correctly and without unreasonable delay unless there is an agreement limiting their liability.

The dissenting opinion in the case of Western Union Telegraph Company v. Ann Arbor Railroad Company argued that the majority's decision to allow Western Union to install telegraph lines along the railroad right-of-way without obtaining consent from or compensating Ann Arbor Railroad was incorrect. The dissent contended that while federal law did grant telegraph companies certain rights, it did not absolve them of their obligation to respect private property rights and negotiate fair agreements with landowners. They believed this ruling could set a dangerous precedent by allowing corporations to exploit public resources for private gain without providing adequate compensation or consideration for those affected by their actions.