FOSDICK
v.
LOWELL MACHINE SHOP.
817
FOSDICK v. LOWELL MACIDNE SHOP et aL (Circuit Court. D. Massachusetts. No. 2,872.
December 9. 1893.)
1.
LACHES-WHAT CONSTITUTES-INFRINGEMENT OF PATENT.
An action was brought by the son and administrator ot a patentee 18 years after the latter's death, and 10 years after the expiration otthe patent, alleging infringement during the whole term of the patent. The patentee had lived in the same town with defendant from the time of receiving the patent until his death, nine years later, and It did not appear that he ever claimed infringement. HeW!, that complainant was guilty of laches, and equity would afford him no assistance by way of discovery. When plaintiff is guilty of gross laches, equity will decline to Interfere under a bill for discovery, the same as under a bill for relief.
2.
SAME-BILL FOR DISCOVERY.
In Equity. Bill of discovery in aid of an action at law brought by Sylvester W. Fosdick, administrator, against the Lowell Machine Shop and others. Heard on exceptions to the answer. Bill dismissed. John T. Wilson, for complainant. John Lowell and John Lowell, Jr., for defendant. COLT, Circuit Judge. This is a bill for discovery in aid of an action at law on a patent. The case was heard on exceptions to the answer. The following facts appear by the bill: The patent was granted to John F. Fosdick, the plaintiff's intestate, on December 23, 1862, and the patentee died 9 years afterwards, in 1871. In 1889,18 years after the patentee's death, and 10 years after the expiration of the patent, the plaintiff, a son of the patentee, took out letters of administration on his father's estate, and at the May term, 1890, brought an action at law in this court against the defendant corporation for infringement of said patent during the term of 17 years for which it was granted, and claiming actual damages in the sum of $1,000,000. It does not appear that the patentee made any claim for damages during his lifetime, or that the plaintiff made any claim prior to the commencement of suit, and no sufficient reason is assigned why the bringing of suit was so long delayed. It appears that the }2atentee, during his lifetime, resided in Lowell, where the defendant corporation has its place of business, and that the plaintiff is a citizen of Boston. On this state of facts, I do not think that the aid of a court of equity should be invoked in favor of the plaintiff, but that such aid should be refused, by reason of gross laches and negligence in prosecuting this claim. It is a well-settled .principle that a court of equity will not give its assistance to enforce a right, however clear it may have once been, when a long time has elapsed without action by the owner of the right. Hence, in matters of account, although not barred by the statute of limitations, courts of equity refuse to interfere, after a considerable lapse of time, from considerations of public policy, growing out of the difficulties of doing v.58F.no.6-52
818
FEDERAL REPORTER,
vol.
entire when the original transactions have 15ecome obscure by lapse of time, and the evidence may be lost. Story, Eq. Jur. § 529; Badger v. Badger, 2 Cliff. 137; Id., 2 Wall. 87. It seems to me that this rule applies to this case with much force. I am aware that this is a bill for discovery, and not a bill for relief. By the modern practice, a court of equity will entertain a demurrer, plea, or answer to a bill of discovery, which relies on a specific defense at law. Langdell, Eq. PI. § 176; Smith v. Fox, 6 Hare, 386. I can see no good reason why a court of equity should not decline to interfere in the case of a bill for discovery, the same as in the case of a bill for relief, where the plaintiff has been guilty of gross laches and long acquiescence. In no case should the aid of a court of equity be invoked in favor of a stale claim. Bill dismissed. BALL & SOCKET FASTENER CO. v. BALL GLOVE FASTENING CO.' (Circuit Court of Appeals, First Circuit. October 27, 1893.) No. 57.
SPECIFIC PERFORMANCE-NATURE OF CONTRACT -
Where the parties to litigation respecting rival patents make a com· promise contract, whereby one withdraws trom the business, turns over to the other. all his tqols, and grants him an exclusive l1ceIUle, the latter to issue to the trade samples of the goods, and oll'er them to the publio in the same manner as other goods of its own manufacture, and carryon the business for the common interest, this creates an agency and fiduciary relations, and a bill for specific performance will lie to enforce it.
PATENTS FOR INVENTIONS.
l
SAlliE-CONSTRUCTION OF CONTRACT.
Such a contract assumes that the patents referred to in it are vaUd, according to the true construction of their claims; and plaintill"s patents cannot, for the purposes of the contract, be limited or all'ected by the issuance of a patent to defendant on a prior· application pending at the time of the contract.
I.BAJd:E-LrlIlITATION OF CLAIMS-REJECTION AND AlIIENDMENT.
Application of the rule that the amendment of a rejected broad claim by the insertion. of specific details restricts the claim, at least with erence to the particulars named, to the precise details in the precise forms described, although a different form might be a mere mechanical equivalent. Where the essence of a patent is the mere fashIon of detailed tion In glove. ,fasteners, a socket with yielding sides to receive a ball cannot be the equivalent of an eyelet, through which the ball or button penetrates, and protrudes on the further side.
"
BAME-INFRmGEMENT-EQUIVALENTS.
$. SAlliE-GLovE FASTENERS.
The second claim of patent No. 290,067, and the fourth claIm of No. 806,021, issued to Edwin J. Kraetzer, December 11,1883, and September 80, 1884, respectively, for improvements in glove fasteners, are restricted by the proceedings in the patent office to the precise details described. 36 Fed. Rep. 309, 39 Fed. Rep. 790, and 53 Fed. Rep. 245, reversed.
Appeal from the Circuit Court of the United States for the District of Massachusetts. In Equity. Bill for relief in respect to a contl'act relating to certain patents for improvements in glove fasteners. There was a. I
Rehearing granted.