Foss v. Culbertson

136 P.2d 711, 17 Wash. 2d 610
CourtWashington Supreme Court
DecidedApril 28, 1943
DocketNo. 28895.
StatusPublished
Cited by26 cases

This text of 136 P.2d 711 (Foss v. Culbertson) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Washington Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Foss v. Culbertson, 136 P.2d 711, 17 Wash. 2d 610 (Wash. 1943).

Opinion

Jeffers, J.

This action was instituted in the superior court for King county by W. Y. Foss, who claimed to be doing business under the assumed names of University Transfer Company, University Transfer and Storage Company, and University Moving and Storage Company, for the purpose of obtaining an injunction restraining defendants it. G. Culbertson and Seattle Terminals Company, Inc., a corporation, from using the word “University” in connection with their transfer, moving, storage, or warehouse business, either by signs, letters, or advertising, or using the trade name University in any manner whatsoever in connection with the transfer, moving, storage, or warehouse business in the city of Seattle, and restraining defendant Pacific Telephone & Telegraph Company from publishing in its telephone directories any such names.

The cause came on for hearing before the court upon the issues raised by plaintiff’s complaint, the answer of defendants Culbertson and Seattle Terminals Company, Inc., and the separate answer of the telephone company. On April 18, 1942, the trial court filed a memorandum opinion, and, on June 5th following, signed findings of fact, conclusions of law, and judgment, which were filed on June 6, 1942.

The evidence shows the following facts: In 1920, plaintiff entered the transfer and baggage business in Seattle, on Corliss avenue, under the name King Auto Transfer, and continued to so operate at this location until 1932, when he moved his office to the 4100 block on University way. The business was what Mr. Foss termed a transfer business, and he used three trucks. *613 Mr. Foss continued in this location for about three months, when he moved his office to 4124 Roosevelt way, where he continued to operate until 1935, at which time he formed a partnership with George W. Wilcox, who then was operating a transfer business under the name University Transfer Company.

After the partnership was formed, the business was moved to 4301 University way, where it was operated under the names University Transfer Company, University Transfer & Storage Company, University Moving & Storage Company, and King Auto Transfer. This partnership continued for two years, when Mr. Foss bought the interest of Mr. Wilcox in the business, including the good will and trade names.

Mr. Foss testified that he continued to operate the business under all of the trade names at 4301 University way, up to 1937-38; that, on November 18, 1937, he filed with the clerk of King county a list of the trade names under which he was operating, these being University Transfer Company, University Transfer & Storage Company, and University Moving & Storage Company; that, at the time of filing the trade names, he was in the business of moving furniture and baggage, general hauling, and storage.

Plaintiff subsequently moved to 1409 east Forty-second street, where his office now is.

George W. Wilcox, hereinbefore referred to, testified that in 1935 he purchased from Charles Walsh the University Transfer Company, which included the University Transfer & Storage Company and University Moving & Storage Company; that he operated under the name of University Transfer Company; and that he had a moving and storage business, although he owned no warehouse. He further testified that he sold his interest in the business to Mr. Foss in December, 1937; that the sale to Mr. Foss included all the rights *614 he had acquired from Mr. Walsh in the University Transfer Company and the other two trade names, including good will.

Charles M. Walsh, from whom Mr. Wilcox purchased the University Transfer Company, testified that he purchased the business from a Mr. Bailey, who had purchased it from a Mr. Jensen, and that Jensen started the business in about 1905. Mr. Walsh further testified that he operated under three names, University Transfer Company, University Transfer & Storage Company, and University Moving & Storage Company, and had filed these assumed names with the county clerk; that he operated under these names from 1921 to 1935, when he sold to Mr. Wilcox; that during his operations he spent considerable money in advertising the business and building up good will; that one of the methods used in advertising the business was the preparation and distribution of thousands of pamphlets; that he also advertised in the Tribune and Northwest Progress, and the university papers; that he advertised continuously in the newspapers, the purpose of such advertising being to acquaint people in the community with the name of his business. Mr. Walsh had the name University Transfer & Storage Company on his van.

(It thus appears that, in 1937, when Mr. Foss purchased from Mr. Wilcox the latter’s interest in the University Transfer Company, Mr. Foss acquired all the interest Mr. Wilcox had acquired from Mr. Walsh in the University Transfer Company, the trade names University Transfer & Storage Company and University Moving & Storage Company, and whatever good will there may have been in connection with these names in the community.)

While it appears that at one time Mr. Foss had a small place used for storage, it does not appear that *615 since 1937 he has had a storage warehouse, or has been in the storage or warehouse business. He did, however, have an arrangement with at least two warehouse companies, whereby goods which he hauled could be stored in their warehouses. The receipt for the goods so stored was issued to the owner, and Mr. Foss received as commission from the warehouse company the first month’s storage charge.

It is admitted that Mr. Foss does not now have, and that he has never had, a license to operate a warehouse, as required by Rem. Rev. Stat. (Sup.), § 11569-1 [P. C. § 7202-21] et seq. The warehouse act is a comprehensive act and, among other provisions, it requires that every warehouseman shall obtain a license to operate a warehouse. It provides for filing a schedule of rates and for inspection and supervision by the department of public service. Section 11569-8 [P. C. § 7202-28] provides in part:

“Any person not a licensed warehouseman under, or excepted from the provisions of this act, who shall display on any building, vehicle, billboard or in any other manner, any advertisement of, or by circular, letter, newspaper, magazine, poster, or card to advertise, storage of property shall be guilty of a' misdemeanor and punishable as such.”

Leon Herkenrath, called by defendant, testified that he was a warehouse inspector and field agent for the. department of public service, which position he had held since 1935; that the department considered warehouse companies and transfer companies separate businesses, and had promulgated different rules covering each business. This witness further testified that complaint had been made that Mr. Foss was doing a storage business without a license, and that he called on Mr. Foss and found he had a small amount of household goods in storage. The inspector ordered Mr. Foss *616 to get rid of the goods he had in storage, and discontinue that type of operations, and that was the extent of the difficulty, as far as storage business was concerned.

While R. G.

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Bluebook (online)
136 P.2d 711, 17 Wash. 2d 610, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/foss-v-culbertson-wash-1943.