Olin Mathieson Chemical Corp. v. Molins Organizations, Ltd.

261 F. Supp. 436, 152 U.S.P.Q. (BNA) 63, 1966 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 10281
CourtDistrict Court, E.D. Virginia
DecidedDecember 6, 1966
DocketCiv. A. 4556
StatusPublished
Cited by11 cases

This text of 261 F. Supp. 436 (Olin Mathieson Chemical Corp. v. Molins Organizations, Ltd.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, E.D. Virginia primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Olin Mathieson Chemical Corp. v. Molins Organizations, Ltd., 261 F. Supp. 436, 152 U.S.P.Q. (BNA) 63, 1966 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 10281 (E.D. Va. 1966).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM OF THE COURT

BUTZNER, District Judge.

The plaintiff, Olin Mathieson Chemical Corporation, has charged The Molins Organizations, Ltd., which will be called Organization, with infringement of two United States patents, Nos. 2,953,878 granted September 27, 1960 and 3,088,-359 granted May 7, 1963. Organization moved to dismiss pursuant to Fed.R.Civ. P. 12(b) on the grounds that the court does not have jurisdiction over and that venue in this district is improper. The court concludes that venue against an alien infringer lies in any district and that process may be served in accordance with Virginia statutes. The motion to dismiss will be denied.

During the years pertinent to this action, Organization engaged in the manufacture and sale of machinery for the tobacco industry. It also held stock of subsidiary companies which in various parts of the world were engaged in manufacturing and selling machinery and parts for the tobacco industry. One of its subsidiaries was Molins Machine Co., Inc., which will be referred to as Corporation, a New York corporation organized in 1931 for the principal purpose of selling in the United States tobacco machinery manufactured by its parent. Corporation also manufactures and sells machinery parts.

The plaintiff recognizes that the English Organization and the American Corporation are separate entities. The plaintiff has filed another action in this court against Corporation for infringement of the same patents.

Corporation’s offices are in New York and its only warehouse is in Richmond, Virginia. For the purposes of this motion, Corporation is recognized to be doing business in Virginia, and the parties have discussed a limited number of sales of tobacco machinery with the understanding that the facts disclosed are typical of other transactions which took place in the state.

The scope of Organization’s American market and its relation to Corporation *439 are shown in Monopolies Comm’n Rep. on the Supply of Cigarettes and Tobacco and of Cigarette and Tobacco Machinery (London: H.M.Stat.Off.1961), fl 50:

“Molins [Organization] estimates, nevertheless, that 60 per cent, of all cigarettes produced in the United States are made on Molins machines and 90 per cent, of all tobacco used there is cut on its machines. Molins goes on to say, that catering as it does for a world market of the greatest diversity, it has had to create an efficient and flexible organisation which can not only sell the machines but also provide instruction in their use and after-sales service. The company submits that it has, in fact, given ‘a striking example of British ingenuity and enterprise which has secured for this country and maintained for this country a predominant position in the United States domestic market without any reliance whatever on any agreements or restrictions.’ ”

Nearly all of Organization’s tobacco manufacturing machines are specially made. Corporation does not carry any inventory of machines. A tobacco company desiring to purchase machines negotiates the sale with officers of Corporation. The specifications and the performance warranties of the machines are approved by Organization; the actual warranty issues from Corporation. Orders are placed for the machines with Corporation. All machines are manufactured at Organization’s works in England. Technical and sales conferences between representatives of tobacco companies and representatives of Organization are conducted at Organization’s works in England. In accordance with Organization’s instructions, test material is sent directly to England from tobacco companies in the United States. A director of Organization visits in this country annually to review the results of Corporation’s operations and to find out, at first hand, developments in the tobacco industry. At less frequent intervals he visits Corporation’s facilities in Richmond. At the suggestion of an officer of Corporation, he has conferred in New York City with prospective purchasers of machinery.

All seven of the service, plant and design engineers of Corporation were former employees of Organization or a related English company. These employees benefit in their present pension plans by their previous employment in England.

Corporation does not manufacture any tobacco-making machinery, but it operates a machine shop independently of its tobacco machinery business. However, the greater portion of its revenues are derived from the sale of machinery made by Organization.

Corporation takes title to the machinery in England. The machines are then shipped directly to the tobacco company which has purchased them or to Corporation for forwarding to the tobacco company.

Service engineers employed by Organization have visited the Virginia factories of tobacco companies for advice and supervision in connection with installation and modification of the machines.

Organization provides purchasers with brochures on the machines. Brochures are also sent to Corporation.

I.

Subject matter jurisdiction of this action is conferred on this court by 28 U.S.C. § 1338(a) and is not contested.

Venue is contested. The court concludes that venue is proper under 28 U.S.C. § 1391(d), which provides:

“An alien may be sued in any district.”

The court holds that 28 U.S.C. § 1400(b) does not exclusively govern venue in an action for patent infringement against an alien. This section states:

“Any civil action for patent infringement may be brought in the judicial district where the defendant resides, or where- the defendant has committed acts of infringement and has a *440 regular and established place of business.”

The defendant, an alien, does not reside in any judicial district and the first ground for determining venue under the statute is inapplicable. The second ground may or may not apply to an alien. Infringement alone does not establish venue. In addition, the defendant must have a regular and established place of business in the district. Feder v. A. B. Fiedler & Sons, 116 F. 378, 379 (C.C.S.D.N.Y.1902). Although Corporation is a wholly owned subsidiary of Organization, Corporation’s activities in Virginia do not cause Organization to have a regular and established place of business in Virginia. Cannon Mfg. Co. v. Cudahy Co., 267 U.S. 333, 45 S.Ct. 250, 69 L.Ed. 634 (1925); Manville Boiler Co. v. Columbia Boiler Co., 269 F.2d 600 (4th Cir. 1959), cert. denied, 361 U.S. 901, 80 S.Ct. 208, 4 L.Ed.2d 156 (1959).

Title 28 U.S.C. § 1400

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Bluebook (online)
261 F. Supp. 436, 152 U.S.P.Q. (BNA) 63, 1966 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 10281, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/olin-mathieson-chemical-corp-v-molins-organizations-ltd-vaed-1966.