Roger Taney issues decision in Charles River Bridge v. Warren Bridge Company

In 1796 Massachusetts issued a charter allowing the Charles River Bridge Company to build a toll bridge over the Charles River. In 1828, due to increased traffic, they issue a second charter to the Warren Bridge Company to build another bridge over the Charles River which would become a free bridge upon its completion. The Charles River Bridge Company sued alleging that their original charter had given them a monopoly over traffic across the river. Taney finds for the Warren Bridge Company stating that the Charles River Bridge Company’s contract had not explicitly stated that they were to be given a monopoly over river traffic. (By Joanne Williams)