In the case of White et al. v. Sparkill Realty Corporation et al., 1929, the Supreme Court dealt with a dispute over land ownership and property rights. The plaintiffs, White and others, claimed that they had rightful title to certain lands in Rockland County, New York due to an alleged error in a previous foreclosure sale conducted by Sparkill Realty Corporation. They argued that this error invalidated Sparkill's claim to the land. However, the court ruled against them stating that even if there was an error during the foreclosure process it did not affect their right or interest in these properties as they were not parties nor privy to those proceedings at all when it happened; therefore they could not assert any claims based on such errors now after so many years have passed since then (the doctrine of laches). Furthermore, their lack of diligence in asserting their supposed rights earlier also played against them according to equity principles applied by courts.

In the dissenting opinion for White et al. v. Sparkill Realty Corporation et al., it was argued that the majority's decision to uphold a lower court ruling, which found in favor of Sparkill Realty Corporation, failed to properly consider key aspects of contract law and property rights. The dissenting justices believed that when White and his associates purchased land from Sparkill with an agreement allowing them access to water resources on adjacent properties also owned by Sparkill, this constituted an easement - a non-possessory right to use another’s property - rather than merely a revocable license as determined by the majority. They contended that such easements should be binding upon subsequent owners of those adjacent lands unless explicitly terminated or modified through mutual consent or legal action. Therefore, they felt that later purchasers were obligated under common law principles not only to recognize but also respect these pre-existing arrangements between original parties involved in transactions concerning their newly acquired properties.