Barry v. General Tire & Rubber Co.

Decision Date31 January 1940
Docket NumberNo. 15610.,15610.
Citation31 F. Supp. 879
CourtU.S. District Court — Northern District of Illinois
PartiesBARRY et al. v. GENERAL TIRE & RUBBER CO. et al.

P. J. Lucey and Gerald G. Barry, both of Chicago, Ill., for plaintiffs.

Evans & McCoy, of Cleveland, Ohio, and Earle E. Ewins, of Chicago, Ill., for defendants.

BARNES, District Judge.

The court has this day made and filed Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law.

Two principal issues were tried in this case: First, did the defendant infringe? And, second, is plaintiffs' patent valid? After argument, the court orally announced a decision finding no infringement, and since there was (as there still is) a possibility that the reviewing courts may not agree with this court on the question of infringement and may desire the decision of this court on the question of validity before passing on that question themselves, and to prevent the necessity for a multiplicity of appeals, this court further found the patent valid.

The court understands that the defendants object to the court's making any formal findings or conclusions in respect of validity of the patent. The defendants have in fact called the court's attention to the case of Electrical Fittings Corp. v. Thomas & Betts Co., 307 U.S. 241, 59 S.Ct. 860, 83 L.Ed. 1263.

The reasons above stated which prompted the oral statement on the question of validity have, in spite of defendants' suggestions, prompted the court's making of formal findings and conclusions on the question of validity.

It may be said that the court errs in assuming that the plaintiffs will appeal from the decree of this court. No good purpose can be served by closing one's eyes to facts. A majority of patent cases are appealed. It is reasonably certain that one or the other or both of the parties will appeal. In any event, the court's findings and conclusions on all issues will be before the reviewing courts.

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2 cases
  • Langsett v. Marmet Corporation
    • United States
    • U.S. District Court — Western District of Wisconsin
    • June 5, 1964
    ...John Barnes Co. et al. v. International Harvester Co. et al., 51 F.Supp. 254 (N.D.Ill.E.D.1943) and Barry, et al. v. General Tire & Rubber Co., et al., 31 F.Supp. 879 (N.D.Ill.E.D. 1940). PRESUMPTION OF VALIDITY OF PATENT IN The granting of a patent raises a presumption as to the validity o......
  • United States v. Agapito, 35935.
    • United States
    • U.S. District Court — Eastern District of New York
    • February 2, 1940

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