Allied Structural Steel Co. v. Spannaus

Mr. Justice Brennan,

with whom Mr. Justice White and Mr. Justice Marshall join, dissenting.

In cases involving state legislation affecting private contracts, this Court’s decisions over the past half century, consistently with both the constitutional text and its original understanding, have interpreted the Contract Clause as prohibiting state legislative Acts which, “[w]ith studied indifference to the interests of the [contracting party] or to his appropriate protection,” effectively diminished or nullified the obligation due him under the terms of a contract. W. B. Worthen Co. v. Kavanaugh,…