Daniel v. Miller

Decision Date12 May 1897
Citation81 F. 1000
PartiesDANIEL v. MILLER et al.
CourtU.S. District Court — Eastern District of Pennsylvania

Preston K. Erdman and Chas. Howson, for complainant.

Charles L. Smyth, for defendants.

DALLAS, Circuit Judge.

This case has been heard upon the plaintiff's motion for a preliminary injunction, and I am persuaded that, under the circumstances disclosed by the proofs as now presented, the defendants should be restrained from continuance of the infringement complained of, which is virtually admitted, until final hearing. The several matters urged in resistance of this motion are separately stated and discussed in the defendants' brief, and they may be briefly disposed of.

1. 'Knowledge of and long-continued acquiescence by a complainant in an infringement may, in special cases, be fatal on a motion for a preliminary injunction. ' Taylor v. Spindle Co., 22 C.C.A. 205, 75 F. 303. But the evidence now before the court, instead of establishing acquiescence, seems to disprove it. See, also, the case above cited, in y9 F. 837.

2. The plaintiff does not allege either prior adjudication or public acquiescence in support of the validity of his patent. He stands upon the presumption of its validity, and upon the fact that he acquired it by assignment from one of the defendants, who, therefore, is precluded from asserting that it is void. The fact that he so acquired it is plainly shown, and is not controverted; and that the estoppel relied upon as against the assignor exists has not been seriously questioned. As to him, at least, there can be no doubt about it.

3. There is more room for dispute as to whether the other defendants are also estopped; but I am clearly of opinion, upon the proofs of privity and of co-operative infringement which have been adduced, that they are.

4. In view of what has already been said, the attack made upon the validity of the patent need not be considered; but I may say that, as the case now appears, it is not very forcible, and does not commend itself to favorable consideration.

The motion for a preliminary injunction is granted.

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11 cases
  • Eskimo Pie Corporation v. National Ice Cream Co.
    • United States
    • U.S. District Court — Western District of Kentucky
    • July 11, 1927
    ...of the patent, that fact supplies the lack of adjudication or acquiescence. Time Telegraph Co. v. Himmer (C. C.) 19 F. 322; Daniel v. Miller (C. C.) 81 F. 1000; Mellor v. Carroll (C. C.) 141 F. 992; Northern Insulating Co. v. Union Fibre Co. (D. C.) 199 F. 793; Continental Wire Fence Co. v.......
  • National Cash Register Co. v. Remington Arms Co., Inc.
    • United States
    • U.S. District Court — District of Delaware
    • July 29, 1922
    ...arises, if the defendant is estopped from denying the validity of the patent. Time Telegraph Co. v. Himmer (C.C.) 19 F. 322; Daniel v. Miller (C.C.) 81 F. 1000; Continental Wire Fence Co. v. Pendergast (C.C.) F. 381; Mellor v. Carroll (C.C.) 141 F. 992; Northern Insulating Co. v. Union Fibr......
  • Siemens-Halske Electric Co. v. Duncan Electric Mfg. Co.
    • United States
    • U.S. Court of Appeals — Seventh Circuit
    • October 3, 1905
    ... ... 918; Woodward v. Boston Lasting ... Mch. Co., 60 F. 283, 8 C.C.A. 622; Natl. Conduit Co ... v. Conn. Pipe Co. (C.C.) 73 F. 491; Daniel v. Miller ... (C.C.) 81 F. 1000; Alvin Mfg. Co. v. Scharling ... (C.C.) 100 F. 87 ... The ... decree is reversed, with the direction to ... ...
  • Johnson Furnace & Engineering Co. v. Western Furnace Co.
    • United States
    • U.S. Court of Appeals — Eighth Circuit
    • March 28, 1910
    ... ... privity with him, are estopped from now alleging the ... invalidity of the patent. Daniel v. Miller (C.C.) 81 ... F. 1000; Force v. Sawyer-Boss Mfg. Co. (C.C.) 111 F ... 902; Time Tel. Co. v. Himmer (C.C.) 19 F. 322; ... Siemens-Halske ... ...
  • Request a trial to view additional results

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