Gilreath v. Beach

228 F. Supp. 359, 140 U.S.P.Q. (BNA) 555, 1964 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 9158
CourtDistrict Court, S.D. Ohio
DecidedJanuary 9, 1964
DocketCiv. A. No. 2370
StatusPublished
Cited by3 cases

This text of 228 F. Supp. 359 (Gilreath v. Beach) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, S.D. Ohio primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Gilreath v. Beach, 228 F. Supp. 359, 140 U.S.P.Q. (BNA) 555, 1964 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 9158 (S.D. Ohio 1964).

Opinion

WEINMAN, Chief Judge.

This action was commenced by plaintiffs Bruce Gilreath and C. J. Ver Halen by a complaint filed June 29,1959 against Theodore L. Beach, d. b. a. Beach Manufacturing Co. Subsequent to the filing of the complaint, the following were added as parties plaintiff: Ted Prutsman Manufacturing Company, Inc., Ted Prutsman Defrosto Mirrors, Inc. and Lansing Company. After a series of assignments, Lansing Company became the owner of the entire legal and equitable title of the patents in suit, having the right to sue for past infringement and any unfair competition.1

The complaint contains three counts. Count 1 alleges that the activities of the defendant in manufacturing and selling [360]*360rear view mirror assemblies constitute unfair competition with plaintiffs; count 2 alleges that the activities of the defendant in manufacturing and selling brackets for mounting rear view mirror assemblies constitute unfair competition; and count 3 alleges that defendant is infringing upon the plaintiffs’ patents, being United States Letters Patent Nos. 2,585,273 and 2,708,086. Patent 2,585,-273 is a patent issued to Paul E. Prutzman on a rear view mirror assembly and contains six claims, each of which is charged to be infringed. Patent 2,708,-086 is a patent issued to Paul E. Prutzman on an adjustable rear view mirror mount or bracket and contains twelve claims. Claims 1 through 5 are charged to be infringed; claims 6 through 12, which are not practiced by plaintiffs, are not charged to be infringed.

' By its answer filed November 24, 1961, defendant denies the claims of unfair competition, denies infringement of the patents in suit and attacks the validity of those two patents. A counterclaim filed by defendant on the same date has been abandoned.

More specifically, it is defendant’s contention that every essential element of claim 1 of Patent 2,585,273 was embodied in a i*ear view mirror assembly manufactured by William E. Jacobs and was in public use and on sale in this country for more than one year prior to the date of the application for the patent by Paul E. Prutzman; and accordingly, claim 1 of the patent would be invalid under § 102 (b), Title 35 U.S.C.A. The defendant further contends that claims 2 through 6 of the mirror patent are invalid since they are modifications dependent upon claim 1 and these modifications would have been obvious to a person skilled in the art to which the subject matter pertains, § 103, Title 35 U.S.C.A.

The defendant further argues that his rear view mirror assembly is based upon his own patent, United States Letters Patent 2,851,926, and the issuance of that patent raises a presumption against its infringement of plaintiffs’ Patent 2,585,-273.

As to plaintiffs’ Patent 2,708,086, the defendant contends that every essential element of claims 1 through 5 was embodied in an adjustable rear view mirror bracket manufactured by William E. Jacobs and that bracket was in public use and on sale in this country for more than one year prior to the date of the application for the patent by Paul E. Prutzman; and accordingly, claims 1 through 5 are invalid under § 102(b), Title 35 U.S.C.A. The defendant also contends that claims 1 through 5 define a bracket structure which was described and widely disseminated in printed publications at least more than one year prior to the filing date of ,the application for the patent, and for this additional reason these claims are invalid under § 102(b), Title 35 U.S.C.A. The defendant further contends that claims 6 through 12, which are not practiced by plaintiffs, contain modifications which would have been obvious to a person skilled in the art and are therefore invalid, § 103, Title 35 U. S.C.A. :•

In its findings of fact, after certain jurisdictional and general findings, the Court deems it advisable to consider first count 3 of the amended complaint: patent infringement. Each patent in suit will be considered separately. Thereafter, the Court will consider jointly counts 1 and 2: the allegations of unfair competition.

FINDINGS OF FACT

1. This action was commenced by plaintiffs Bruce Gilreath and C. J. Ver Halen, Jr., by a complaint filed June 29, 1959. Each of these plaintiffs is a citizen of the State of California. Defendant Theodore L. Beach is a citizen of the State of Ohio.

2. On November 13, 1961, plaintiffs Ted Prutsman Manufacturing Company, Inc. and Ted Prutsman Defrosto Mirrors, Inc. were added as parties plaintiff. Plaintiffs Ted Prutsman Manufacturing Company, Inc. and Ted Prutsman Defrosto Mirrors, Inc., are each corporations incorporated under the laws of the State of California.

[361]*361It should be noted that the Court, in its order of November 13, 1961, stated that plaintiffs’ motion to file an amended complaint under Rule 15 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure was not the proper procedure to follow in adding parties plaintiff; a motion to add parties under Rule 21 being the proper procedure.

3. On September 12, 1962, the Court granted plaintiffs’ motion, which was unopposed by defendant, to add Lansing Company as a party plaintiff. Plaintiff Lansing Company is a corporation incorporated under the laws of the State of Michigan.

4. As a result of a series of agreements, infra (a)-(e), Lansing Company became the owner of the entire legal and equitable title of the patents in suit, having the right to sue for past infringement and any unfair competition. Several of the following agreements are confusing and superfluous; however, the end result is entire legal and equitable title in Lansing Company.

a. On May 8, 1959, Paul E. Prutzman transferred his entire interest in the patents in suit, including the right to sue for past infringement, to plaintiffs Bruce Gilreath and C. J. Ver Halen, Jr. (Defendant’s Exhibit XXI.)

b. On May 18, 1960, Paul E. Prutzman transferred such interest as he had to C. J. Ver Halen, Jr. (Plaintiffs’ Exhibits 8 and 9; identical to Defendant’s Exhibits XVII and XIX, respectively.)

c. On December 19, 1960, which is subsequent to the filing of the complaint, plaintiffs Bruce Gilreath, C. J. Ver Halen, Jr., Ted Prutsman Manufacturing Company and Ted Prutsman Defrosto Mirrors, Inc., executed an agreement whereby they transferred their entire interest in the patents in suit, including the right to bring suit thereon and control the conduct of the litigation, to plaintiff Lansing Company. (Plaintiffs’ Exhibit 41.)

d. On November 8, 1961, plaintiff C. J. Ver Halen, Jr., transferred his interest in the patents in suit to Lansing Company. (Plaintiffs’ Exhibit 10; identical to Defendant’s Exhibit XVIII).

e. In March, 1963, which is subsequent to the filing of the complaint, plaintiff Bruce Gilreath assigned such interest as he had in the patents in suit to plaintiff C. J. Ver Halen, Jr.

RE; INFRINGEMENT OF UNITED STATES LETTERS PATENT 2,-585,273

5. On January 26, 1950, Paul E. Prutzman filed an application for patent on a rear view mirror assembly. On February 12, 1952, the patent was issued as United States Letters Patent 2,585,273. (Plaintiffs’ Exhibit 1). The patent contains 6 claims, each of which plaintiffs allege is being infringed by defendant.

6.

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Bluebook (online)
228 F. Supp. 359, 140 U.S.P.Q. (BNA) 555, 1964 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 9158, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/gilreath-v-beach-ohsd-1964.