WOODARD fl. ELLWORDGAS 8TOVB .. STAMPING 00.
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gave instructions concerning the carving of the heads and shields and the corbel; also, that Vollbracht never gave any instructions in regard to building up the work. J uUus A. Braum testifies that no fixture was ever made by the Rothschild's Sons' Company after the design which Vollbracht claims to have sketched for Swan at Detroit. Vollbracht is also contradicted by Julius F. Beuhler, who testifies. that Rothschild originated the patented design; that for some four years before the date of his testimony, which was given March, 1894, Rothschild had stated to witness his intention to get up a design for new fixtures that would, as he expressed it, "stun the country"; and that he spoke on a good many occasions to the witness of the details of the design, such as the marble work, the cove overhead, the lion heads, and the columns resting on the counter, and holding the cove of the mirror frames; ,also, that several rough sketches were made, to which improvements were added, and they· were altered from time to time, all under the instructions of Rothschild. The sketches of these drawings and improvements were made by Vollbracht, then draftsman for the Rothschild's Sons' Company. This was, the witness states, early in 1891, probably in January, but long after David Rothschild had spoken to the witness about the design. The criticism upon the testimony of these witnesses that they speak from hearsay is not well founded. It is true that in some matters, but not those above referred to, they did speak from hearsay, or testified to inferences. Their testimony as detailed above is clear and positive. I am satisfied upon all the testimony that David Rothschild invented the design j that Vollbracht's claim to be the inventor is unfounded in fact; and that the patent is valid. It is not denied that the defendants have copied and used the complainant's design, and that they are infringers if the patent be sustained. The decree will be for an injunction and account against the defendants. WOODARD et 0.1. v. ELLWOOD GAS STOVE & STAMPING CO. (Circuit Court, W. D. Pennsylvania. April 18, 1895.) No. 13. :L COURTS-COMITY
In an action at law for infringement 01' a patent there was a verdict for plaintiff, and the court entered judgment thereon in his favor. Subsequently, in a suit in equity in another circuit against another infringer, the defendant set up the same defenses which had been made in the previouli' action at law. Held, that the same weight should be given to the verdict and judgment at law as is ordinarily accorded to a decree in equity' at final hearing sustaining a patent, and that upon a motion for a preliminary injunction the presumption in favor of the validity of the patent arising from the previous adjudication should prevail The Klein and Woodard patent, No. 249,842, for a vapor-burning stove attaChment, held. valid and infringed, on motion for preliminary injunction.
m
PATENT CASES-EFFECT OF VERDICT AND JUDGMENT.
... 8AME-VAPOR STOVES.
This was a- bill by William H. Woodard and L. D. Benedict .against the Ellwood Gas Stove & Stamping Company, for infringe-
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'JI'li;DJ;RAL BEPQRTER,
:vol. 6$.
ment of a patent for a vapor-burning, stove .attachment ants moved for apreli,minary injunction. George H. Lothrop, for plaintiffs. John R. Bennett, for defendant.
Complain-
A0B;ESON, OircuitJudge. This is it suit for the'infringement of letters patent No. 249,842, issued ,November 22,1881, to Charles F. Klein and Wiiliam, H. Woodard, for a vapor-burning stove attachment, and the case is now before the court upon a motion fo1' a preliminary injunction. the defendant infringes if the patent is valid. This is not denied. To defeat this motion, the defense mainly relied on is that the patentees were not joint inventors, but that Klein was the sole inventor of the device in question. It appears, however, that in an. action at law for the infringement of this patent brought September: 17, 1887, by these plaintiffs against the Dangler Stove & Manufacturing Company in the United States circuit court for the Northern district of Ohio,Eastern division, this same defense, among others, was set up and vigorously pressed, the action being defended not only by the company there sued, but by a combination of vapor-stove manufacturing companies. In that case, after a protracted trial, there was a verdict sustaining the patent. The defendant moved .for a new trial, assigning as oue of the prin· cipal reasons in support of the motion the finding by the jury of joint inventorship by: the patentees. 4.ftel' argument, the court, on November 17, 1888, overruled the motion, and entered judgment for the plaintiffs on the verdict. Subsequently to the rendition of that ,judgment, ther.e was no infringement of .the patent until this defendant began to infringe shortly before the date of this suit. In support of the allegation that the patentees were,not joint inventors, but that Klein was the sole inventor, the present defendant has produced a caveat filed by Klein alone, and also an affidavit of Klein. But that caveat was in evidence in the former action, and Klein was there examined as a witness for the defense to show that he was the sole inventor. As to the question of joint inventorship, the proofs now before me are by no means convincing that the verdict of the jury and the judgment of the court thereon were erroneous. In view of the former adjudication, I am of the opinion that the presumption that the patent rightly issued to the patentees as joint inventors must prevail upon this application for a preliminary injunction, and that the consideration of this defense must be postponed until final hearing. This conclusion is in accord with the general rule of practice approved by the circuit court of appeals for this circuit in Philadelphia Trust, Safe-Deposit & Ins. Co. v. Edison Electric Light Co., 13 C. C. A. 40, 65 Fed. 551. 'rhe suggestion that les.s shl;lUld be given to the verdict of the jury and judgment of the court here relied on than is to be accorded to a decree in equity sustaining a patent cannot be accepted. Wells v. Gill, 6 Fish. Pat. Oas. 89, 91, Fed. Cas. No. 17,394. The question of joint or sole inventorship is largely one of fact, and presumably the finding of the
THE
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jury in·1:hia. instance was based upoIl proper Instructions given by the Then, the finding was sanctioned by the court by the refusal to disturb ,the verdict and the entry of judgment thereon. The patent in suit has but a few years to run,and the plaintiffs should not be lightly deprived of the benefit of the verdict and, judgment they have obtained. Moreover, the defendant is a very deliberate infringer. The defense of want of patentability was not much pressed here. It failed in the former action. The only prior patent exhibited here is the one to A. J. White. That patent, however, was set up in de· fense in the former suit I do not think that it anticipates or af· fects the patent iJ;l suit; and I am entirely satisfied, upon the present proofs, that the plaintiffs' patent is for a new and useful invention. A preliminary injunction will be allowed.
THE GLIDE. HUDSON v. GRAFFLIN. (Circuit Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit. June 11. 1895.' No. 135. ADMIRALTY PRACTICE-TAKING EVIDENCE imAPPEAL.
Upon the hearlng"qt a cause In the claimant, who did not Uve In the city wbere the bearing took place, failed to appear. The libelant's
evidence was taken, and the case adjourned to a future day. On such adjourned day claimant again' faUed to appear, and 'his proctor was unable to give any reason tor his absence, whereupon the CRse proceeded tojudgment for the libelant. It appeared that claimant had been ill, had expected to be present on bot4 days, bu,thad been prevented by his disease from' attending or advising' with his proctor. Held, that a proper case was made out tor permitting claimant to ,take evidence pending an appeal.
This was a libel' by George W. Graffiin against the Glide (George P. Hudson, claimant). Judgment was rendered in the district court for the libelant The claimant appealed, and now moves for leave to take testimony pending his appeal Robert H. Smith, for appellant. Frank Gosnell, for appellee. Before GOFF and SIMONTON, Circuit Judges, and HUGHES, District Judge. SIMONTON, Circuit Judge. This is a petition in behalf of the -claimant, praying that he be allowed to examine certain witnesses, pending the appeal in this court The prayer of the petition is resisted by the appellee. We have no special rule bearing on this case. It is governed by rule 8,1 conforming our practice to that of the supreme court 'The application is not a matter of right. The court in each case 1
(11 C. C. A. ci., 41 Fed. v.)