Wisconsin v. Duluth is a United States Supreme Court case that was decided in 1877. The case involved a dispute between the state of Wisconsin and the city of Duluth, Minnesota over the ownership of a strip of land along the St. Louis River. Wisconsin claimed that the land belonged to them, while Duluth argued that it was part of their city limits. The Supreme Court ultimately sided with Wisconsin, ruling that the land belonged to the state. The Court held that the land was part of the original Wisconsin Territory, and that the state had never ceded it to the United States or to any other state. The Court also held that the state had never granted the land to Duluth, and that the city had no legal claim to it. The decision in Wisconsin v. Duluth was significant because it established the principle that states have the right to retain ownership of land that was part of their original territory, even if it is now within the boundaries of another state. This principle has been applied in numerous cases since then, and it is still an important part of American law today.

In Wisconsin v. Duluth, the Supreme Court was asked to decide whether a state could be held liable for damages caused by its negligence in failing to maintain a navigable river. The majority opinion found that states are not liable for such damages because they do not have the same duty of care as private citizens or corporations. Justice Field dissented from this decision and argued that states should be held accountable when their actions cause harm to individuals or property. He reasoned that if a state fails in its duty of care, it should bear responsibility just like any other party who has been negligent in causing injury or damage. Furthermore, he noted that allowing states immunity from liability would create an unfair situation where those injured by government action would have no recourse against them while those harmed by private parties can seek redress through civil suits.