Dicks Press Guard Mfg. Co. v. Bowen

229 F. 193, 1916 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 1030
CourtDistrict Court, N.D. New York
DecidedJanuary 22, 1916
StatusPublished
Cited by8 cases

This text of 229 F. 193 (Dicks Press Guard Mfg. Co. v. Bowen) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, N.D. New York primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Dicks Press Guard Mfg. Co. v. Bowen, 229 F. 193, 1916 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 1030 (N.D.N.Y. 1916).

Opinion

RAY, District Judge

(after stating the facts as above).

[1] So far as I am aware this is a novel application, but in the absence of opposition and opposition here I see no reason why the motion should not be granted. December 30, 1914, the said Geuder, Paeschke & Frey Company wrote the president of the complainant, Dicks Press Guard Manufacturing Company, as follows:

“Mr. Max H. Fischer c/o Dicks Press Guard Mfg. Co., 41 Park Row, New York City — Dear Mr. Fischer: I thank you very much for the papers submitted to me, and I have had the matter gone over by my attorney since his return. You kindly gave me until January 2d for consideration, but, having made up our mind, we hasten to return the papers to you. We think that we ought not to be considered to be infringers of your patent, and, feeling that way, we want to be heard by the court upon the subject. If you will, therefore, file your bill and send us or our attorneys a copy of the same after it is filed, together with the order, to show cause after it is issued by the court, we will have our attorneys appear in the action and take up the motion for an injunction before the court. Our attorneys will, under our instructions, do this as soon as it is practicable for them to prepare our answering affidavits, which are in hand, and arrange for an appearance before the court. We understand from you that the date of this appearance will be made reasonable for both parties, which, as far as our side is concerned, we engage. Our attorneys are Messrs. Flanders, Bottum, Fawsett & Bottum, Pabst Building, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, .and we inclose their card. Kindly acknowledge receipt.
“Very truly yours Chas. A. Paeschke.”

The same day, December 30, 1914, Messrs. Flanders, Bottum, Fawsett & Bottum wrote Mr. Randolph, the complainant’s attorney, as follows:

“Mr. Frederick P. Randolph, No. 41 Park Row, New York City — Dear Sir: We have lately had submitted to us a proposed bill of complaint, order to show [195]*195causo, and accompanying affidavits in the matter between the Dicks Press Guard Manufacturing Company and M. II. Fischer v. George W. Bowen. If you will send us a copy of this bill and accompanying affidavits and order to siiow cause as soon as the papers are filed and a proper date fixed, we are instructed by our clients. Messrs. Geuder, Paeschke & Frey Company, of this city, to appear for the defendant and attend the hearing upon your motion for an injunction. Your draft of the order to show cause did not indicate tlie place of hearing nor the time. We are not strenuous about service of the notice. You can serve the papers upon us by mail and we will admit service, but it will be necessary for us to have a reasonable time to get our affidavits in,shape after notice of the time and place of hearing. We would think ten days would lie amply sufficient for this purpose. As we understand it, this is a contest with friendly disposition on botli sides, but with radical difference upon the question of infringement in the views of the parties. We expect to conduct our side of this contest with entire courtesy towards you.
“Very truly yours, Flanders, Bottum, Fawsett & Bottum.”

The defendant is a user of the alleged infringing device. Geuder, Paeschke & Frey Company is the maker. January 8, 1915, the complainants here filed their bill in equity to restrain alleged infringement of the patent referred to, and made a motion in this court for a preliminary injunction, which was.granted. An appeal to the Circuit Court of Appeals was taken, and October 23, 1915, Messrs. Flanders, Bottum, Fawsett & Bottum wrote complainants’ attorney as follows :

“Frederick P. Randolph, Esq., 41 Park Row, New York City, New York Dear Sir: We acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 20th instant, acknowledging- receipt of three copies of our printed brief for defendant-appellant in file Dicks Press Guard Mfg. Co. et al. v. Bowen case, and note that you will mail copies of your brief for plaintiffs-respondents to Parsons & Bodeli. As tlie writer, Mr. Dennett, and our Mr. E. H. Bottum, will argue the case in the Court of Appeals, kindly send us copies of your brief, and you need send no copies to Parsons & Bodeli. We are handling the case ourselves though we had to employ local solicitors under the rule in the Northern district, and had Mr. Parsons enter his appearance in the Court of Appeals at the time he was personally in New York and filed tlie record and docketed the case.
“Yours truly, Flanders, Bottum, Fawsett & Bottum.”

Thereafter such appeal was heard and the order granting the preliminary injunction was affirmed. A motion for reargument was made, and in reference thereto Messrs. Flanders, Bottum, Fawsett & Bottum wrote complainants’ attorney as follows:

“Milwaukee, Wis., Jan. 6, 3916.
“Frederick P. Randolph, Esq., 41 Park Row, New York City, N. Y. — Dear Sir: We are sending- you herewith a copy of defendant-appellant’s petition for rehearing in the case of The Dicks Press Guard Manufacturing Company and Maximilian II. Fischer Complainauts-Appellees, v. George W. Bowen, Doing Business under the Name of Bowen Manufacturing Company. We are also sending you three extra copies for your use under separate cover.
“Yours truly, Flanders, Bottum, Fawsett & Bottum.”

January 12, 1916, the motion for reargument was denied. On the hearing for preliminary injunction, the argument of the appeal, and motion for reargument the said Geuder, Paeschke & Frey Company was represented, and in fact conducted and controlled the defense. The question presented is: Can a corporation, alleged infringer and maker of the alleged infringing device, resident of another state, where it conducts its business, be made a formal party defendant on the record in a suit for infringement brought in this state, New York, when [196]*196it has voluntarily come into the case brought against a seller or user, or both, and, as here, openly and avowedly assumed and conducted the defense, and shown and declared its appearance by letters and the receipt of papers in the case. Such corporation could not have been sued in this state and district, as it is a nonresident and not within the jurisdiction. Sections 48 and 50, Judicial Code. But it could have come in voluntarily and accepted service, or it could have voluntarily appeared, had it been named as a party on tire record, and by appearing 'would have waived the question of jurisdiction-of the person and would have submitted itself to the jurisdiction of this court, even though a nonresident of tire district and state. Sectioir 50, Judicial Code.

[2] Is not this the effect of its voluntary appearance on the hearing and on the appeal, and its open and avowed assumption of the defense, coupled with the letters quoted? Having appeared and openly and avowedly assumed and conducted the defense thus far, it is bound by the order made, which is final during the pendency of the action. May not all this be evidenced by making the corporation a defendant on the record ? And may not it be held to its appearance by now formally making it a party ? It would seem plain that the court ought to know what parties, either complainant or defendant, are before it and entitled to be heard, and that the .record itself should show this.

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

Schnell v. Peter Eckrich & Sons, Inc.
279 F.2d 594 (Seventh Circuit, 1960)
Carl Schnell v. Peter Eckrich & Sons, Inc.
279 F.2d 594 (Seventh Circuit, 1960)
Ocean Accident & Guarantee Corp. v. Felgemaker
143 F.2d 950 (Sixth Circuit, 1944)
Clements Mfg. Co. v. Eureka Vacuum Cleaner Co.
1 F. Supp. 384 (E.D. New York, 1932)
Hoskins v. Hotel Randolph Co.
211 N.W. 858 (Supreme Court of Iowa, 1927)
Radio Corporation of America v. EJ Edmond & Co.
20 F.2d 929 (S.D. New York, 1927)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
229 F. 193, 1916 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 1030, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/dicks-press-guard-mfg-co-v-bowen-nynd-1916.