New Process Fermentation Co. v. Baltz

U.S. Circuit Court

New Process Fermentation Co. v. Baltz

10 F. 289, 1882 U.S. App. LEXIS 2287

CourtUnited States Circuit Court

DecidedJanuary 18, 1882

StatusPublished

Cited by1 cases

This text of 10 F. 289 (New Process Fermentation Co. v. Baltz) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering United States Circuit Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook

New Process Fermentation Co. v. Baltz, 10 F. 289, 1882 U.S. App. LEXIS 2287 (uscirct 1882).

Pincite

Opinion

McKennan, C. J.

Although the answer denies the validity of the patent on which this suit is founded, the respondent’s counsel has confined his discussion of the case to the question of infringement, and that is the only question which we deem it necessary to consider.

The only proof in support of the allegation of infringement produced by the complainant is the testimony of Mathias Hoffman, but, unaided by the presumption arising from the absence of any proof on the other side, it could not be regarded as sufficient to acquit the complainant of the burden which rests upon it. It is answered fully, however, by the testimony of John Birken stock. From 1873 to 1879 he was assistant foreman at the respondent’s brewery, and after the latter date was the brewer. ITe had responsible charge of the manufacture of beer, and the whole process was conducted under his super-, vision and direction. He distinctly negatives the use of any part of the process described and covered by the complainant’s patent.

[290]*290The patented process provides for the treatment of beer when it is in the Krauesen stage by holding it under automatically controllable pressure of carbonic acid gas by appropriate mechanical devices. When this stage ends the process is fully accomplished, and, in the understanding of the trade, the Krauesen stage terminates when the casks containing the liquid are bunged.

Now, although it is admitted that the respondents use the .Guth patented bung, by means of which the complainant’s process may be practiced, yet it is satisfactorily shown by all the evidence that it is not used as long as the beer works out of the bung-hole of the shavings casks, but only .when the casks are bunged, and so when the patented process is, by its express limitation, inapplicable. And this bung is not even then used to produce any result contemplated by the complainant’s process, but only in racking off the beer from the shavings casks, and as a means of relieving them from an excessive pressure of carbonic acid gas.

We are, therefore, of opinion that the respondent is not shown to have used the complainant’s process, and so to have infringed its patent, and that the bill must be dismissed, with costs.

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McKennan, C. J.

Although the answer denies the validity of the patent on which this suit is founded, the respondent’s counsel has confined his discussion of the case to the question of infringement, and that is the only question which we deem it necessary to consider.

The only proof in support of the allegation of infringement produced by the complainant is the testimony of Mathias Hoffman, but, unaided by the presumption arising from the absence of any proof on the other side, it could not be regarded as sufficient to acquit the complainant of the burden which rests upon it. It is answered fully, however, by the testimony of John Birken stock. From 1873 to 1879 he was assistant foreman at the respondent’s brewery, and after the latter date was the brewer. ITe had responsible charge of the manufacture of beer, and the whole process was conducted under his super-, vision and direction. He distinctly negatives the use of any part of the process described and covered by the complainant’s patent.

[290]*290The patented process provides for the treatment of beer when it is in the Krauesen stage by holding it under automatically controllable pressure of carbonic acid gas by appropriate mechanical devices. When this stage ends the process is fully accomplished, and, in the understanding of the trade, the Krauesen stage terminates when the casks containing the liquid are bunged.

Now, although it is admitted that the respondents use the .Guth patented bung, by means of which the complainant’s process may be practiced, yet it is satisfactorily shown by all the evidence that it is not used as long as the beer works out of the bung-hole of the shavings casks, but only .when the casks are bunged, and so when the patented process is, by its express limitation, inapplicable. And this bung is not even then used to produce any result contemplated by the complainant’s process, but only in racking off the beer from the shavings casks, and as a means of relieving them from an excessive pressure of carbonic acid gas.

We are, therefore, of opinion that the respondent is not shown to have used the complainant’s process, and so to have infringed its patent, and that the bill must be dismissed, with costs.

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Bluebook (online)

10 F. 289, 1882 U.S. App. LEXIS 2287, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/new-process-fermentation-co-v-baltz-uscirct-1882.

Opinion

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