Otto Milk Co. v. City of Washington

80 Pa. D. & C. 233, 1951 Pa. Dist. & Cnty. Dec. LEXIS 66
CourtPennsylvania Court of Common Pleas, Washington County
DecidedSeptember 17, 1951
Docketno. 4862
StatusPublished

This text of 80 Pa. D. & C. 233 (Otto Milk Co. v. City of Washington) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Pennsylvania Court of Common Pleas, Washington County primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Otto Milk Co. v. City of Washington, 80 Pa. D. & C. 233, 1951 Pa. Dist. & Cnty. Dec. LEXIS 66 (Pa. Super. Ct. 1951).

Opinion

Cummins, J.,

This is a suit in equity wherein plaintiff seeks an injunction restraining defendants from unlawfully interfering with its business.

Plaintiff, Otto Milk Company, is a Pennsylvania corporation having its domicile in the City of Pittsburgh, Pa. Plaintiff is engaged in the business of receiving, processing and distributing, at wholesale, milk and the derivatives thereof. Plaintiff sells and distributes milk in Pittsburgh and the surrounding area, including defendant City of Washington. Distribution plants are also operated by plaintiff at Smithton, Rochester, and Blairsville, Pa.

Plaintiff has duly qualified and holds a permit issued by the Secretary of Health of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, authorizing plaintiff to sell pasteurized milk in this Commonwealth. Plaintiff is also duly licensed by the Milk Control Commission of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to transact business as a milk dealer in this Commonwealth.

[234]*234Plaintiff also holds a permit from the Board of Health of the City of Washington to sell certified, raw and pasteurized milk in defendant city. Prior to this suit plaintiff has sold milk in defendant city for more than 17 years. Since November 1949 plaintiff has been selling milk in Washington in “Pure-Pak” containers.

In the distribution of its milk and milk products plaintiff uses the “Pure-Pak” fibre-board or paper container exclusively, which container has been approved by the Secretary of Health of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania for distribution of milk in Pennsylvania.

This suit is a sequel to a prior action in equity between the same parties filed in this court at no. 4629 in equity. Both suits were precipitated by defendants’ attempts to prohibit plaintiff from using “Pure-Pak” containers for delivery of milk in defendant city.

In the first suit this court enjoined these defendants from enforcing certain resolutions of defendant board of health requiring that milk be bottled and delivered in transparent containers; and further, on appeal, the Supreme Court also enjoined these defendants from enforcing the then existing ordinance in such manner as to prohibit or interfere with the use by plaintiff of “Pure-Pak” containers in the sale and delivery of milk and from revoking plaintiff’s health permit because plaintiff sells or delivers milk in paper milk bottles: Otto Milk Company v. Washington City et al., 363 Pa. 243.

This Supreme Court opinion was handed down on November 21,1949. On April 5,1950, a new ordinance regulating the sale of milk was enacted by the City of Washington. Section 6 of this ordinance provides that:

“No person shall sell: . . .

“(f) Milk in quantities of less than one (1) gallon in any containers other than a transparent standard glass milk bottle.”

[235]*235Section 2 of the ordinance is of similar import and provides:

“Section 2 (d) ‘Pasteurized Milk’ shall he sold in quantities of less than one (1) gallon in transparent standard glass milk bottles only.”

Prior to the effective date of the new ordinance, which was May 15, 1950, plaintiff filed its bill in this suit seeking to restrain defendants from interfering with plaintiff’s lawful business of selling and distributing milk and the fluid derivatives thereof in “Pure-Pak” paper bottles or containers; and further to restrain defendants from enforcing the new ordinance in such manner as to prohibit or interfere with the use by plaintiff of paper milk bottles or containers in the sale and delivery of milk and the fluid derivatives of milk in said city; and further to restrain defendants from revoking the health permit of plaintiff because plaintiff sells or delivers milk or milk products in paper milk bottles or containers.

In substance the bill alleged that the new ordinance is invalid, unconstitutional and void insofar as the ordinance limits the bottles or containers to be used in the sale and delivery of milk to transparent standard glass milk bottles and prohibits the use of “Pure-Pak” paper bottles or containers.

An answer was filed by defendants which in substance avers that the ordinance prohibiting the sale of milk in any containers other than transparent standard glass milk bottles is valid.

A preliminary injunction was granted to plaintiff, which was continued until final hearing.

The principal issue raised by the pleadings is the validity of the ordinance insofar as it prohibits sale of milk in any container other than a transparent standard glass bottle and particularly, insofar as it prohibits use by plaintiff of the “Pure-Pak” container in the sale of milk in said city.

[236]*236 Findings of Fact

1. Plaintiff, Otto Milk Company, is a corporation organized under the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, having its domicile in the City of Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, Pa.

2. Defendant, City of Washington, is a municipal corporation in the County of Washington, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Dr. J. R. Maxwell, Dr. G. W. Ramsey, W. D. Hancher, John T. Toben and J. Frank Rutan are members of the Board of Health of the City of Washington. Defendant C. E. Houston is Health Officer of the City of Washington, and defendant Thomas W. Henderson is Secretary of the Board of Health and also food and milk.

3. Plaintiff has duly qualified for the sale of milk and kindred products under the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and a permit has been duly issued by the Secretary of Health of the Commonwealth authorizing plaintiff to sell and deal in milk and kindred products in the Commonwealth.

4. At the time the bill was filed, on May 8, 1950, plaintiff, Otto Milk Company, had duly qualified for the sale of milk and kindred products in the City of Washington and had done so for a period of 17 years and upward and a permit had been duly issued by the Board of Health of the City of Washington authorizing plaintiff to sell, distribute and deal in milk and kindred products in the city. The permit expired on the day prior to the effective date of an ordinance of the City of Washington, or on May 14, 1950.

5. On the date the bill in equity was filed, May 8, 1950, the sale of milk in the City of Washington was regulated by ordinance adopted by council on July 22, 1925, known as the “Milk Ordinance”.

6. On the date the bill in equity was filed, May 8, 1950. under the terms and provisions of the Milk Ordi[237]*237nance, adopted by the Council of the City of Washington on July 22, 1925, plaintiff is permitted to sell and distribute milk and milk products in the City of Washington in paper milk bottles or containers, and particularly in the paper milk bottle or container known as “Pure-Pak” container or bottle.

7. The city adopted an ordinance, no. 577, regulating the sale and distribution of milk in the City of Washington on April 5, 1950, which became effective on May 15, 1950.

8. In a prior suit between these parties, defendants were enjoined from enforcing the then existing ordinance in such manner as to prohibit or interfere with the use by plaintiff in the sale and delivery of milk and the fluid derivatives thereof in the City of Washington of the “Pure-Pak” containers and defendants were further enjoined from revoking the health permit of plaintiff because plaintiff sells or delivers milk or milk products in paper milk bottles.

9.

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24 A. 76 (Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, 1892)

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Bluebook (online)
80 Pa. D. & C. 233, 1951 Pa. Dist. & Cnty. Dec. LEXIS 66, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/otto-milk-co-v-city-of-washington-pactcomplwashin-1951.