In the case of Western Union Telegraph Co. v. Pendleton, the Supreme Court of the United States was asked to decide whether a telegraph company was liable for damages caused by its negligence in failing to deliver a telegram. The plaintiff, Pendleton, had sent a telegram to a third party, but the telegram was never delivered. Pendleton sued the telegraph company for damages, arguing that the company was negligent in failing to deliver the telegram. The Supreme Court held that the telegraph company was liable for damages caused by its negligence. The Court reasoned that the telegraph company had a duty to deliver the telegram, and that it had breached that duty by failing to do so. The Court also held that the telegraph company was liable for any damages caused by its negligence, regardless of whether the telegram was actually delivered or not. In conclusion, the Supreme Court held that the telegraph company was liable for damages caused by its negligence in failing to deliver a telegram. The Court reasoned that the telegraph company had a duty to deliver the telegram, and that it had breached that duty by failing to do so. The Court also held that the telegraph company was liable for any damages caused by its negligence, regardless of whether the telegram was actually delivered or not.

Justice Field, in his dissenting opinion for the case of Western Union Telegraph Co. v. Pendleton, argued that the majority had incorrectly interpreted a contract between two parties and thus wrongly decided against the telegraph company. He believed that under the terms of their agreement, it was clear that Pendleton had agreed to pay all costs associated with any messages sent by him through Western Union's services; he further noted that this included any fees charged by third-party companies who were necessary for relaying those messages from one point to another along its route. Justice Field concluded his dissent by stating that if such an interpretation was not accepted then contracts would become meaningless documents as they could be easily disregarded or amended without consequence when convenient for either party involved in them.