Paper Converting Machine Co. v. Magna-Graphics Corp.

631 F. Supp. 660, 228 U.S.P.Q. (BNA) 524, 1985 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 19401
CourtDistrict Court, E.D. Wisconsin
DecidedMay 30, 1985
DocketC.A. No. 79-C-499
StatusPublished

This text of 631 F. Supp. 660 (Paper Converting Machine Co. v. Magna-Graphics Corp.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, E.D. Wisconsin primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Paper Converting Machine Co. v. Magna-Graphics Corp., 631 F. Supp. 660, 228 U.S.P.Q. (BNA) 524, 1985 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 19401 (E.D. Wis. 1985).

Opinion

DECISION AND ORDER

REYNOLDS, Chief Judge.

This is an action for patent infringement arising under the patent laws of the United States, Title 35 U.S.C. The plaintiff Paper Converting Machine Company (“Paper Converting”) holds a patent covering a machine that rewinds toilet paper stock and paper towel stock from a parent roll onto smaller consumer rolls. After a court trial the validity of the patent was upheld, a willful infringement was found, and the Court awarded treble damages and injunctive relief against the defendant, Magna-Graphics Corporation (“Magna-Graphics”). 211 USPQ 788 (E.D.Wis.1981); aff’d 680 F.2d 483 (7th Cir.1982).

In the accounting phase of the trial, the Court found that Magna-Graphics made two sales of infringing rewinders, and awarded $112,163.00 as damages for the infringing sale of the Scott machine and $145,583.00 as damages for the infringing sale of the Fort Howard machine. The [661]*661total award of lost profits was trebled and $119,826.00 was awarded as prejudgment interest for a total award of $893,064.00. 576 F.Supp. 967 (E.D.Wis.1983).

On appeal, the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit vacated that portion of the judgment trebling the damages on the Fort Howard machine and remanded the case to this Court for a determination of willfulness. 745 F.2d 11, 24 (Fed.Cir.1984). The Fort Howard machine was only 80% completed when the injunction was issued at the conclusion of the liability phase of this trial. The finding of willful infringement was made at the liability phase, and the machine was completed and tested prior to the accounting phase. Noting the factual difference between Magna-Graphic’s actions in regard to the two machines, the appellate court remanded the case for additional findings as to the willfulness of Magna-Graphic’s post-injunction activities. Id. at 20.

After the Court’s decision and order following the liability phase was issued, Magna-Graphics considered various options to enable it to complete the Fort Howard machine without infringing the patent at issue. Magna-Graphics ultimately performed a two stage testing procedure which was held to be an infringement under the doctrine of equivalents. This ruling was affirmed by the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. The issue on remand is whether there was a willful infringement in the testing of the Fort Howard machine, and more specifically, whether Magna-Graphics behaved unreasonably in view of the totality of the circumstances in not obtaining an opinion of counsel on the specific testing procedure.

A hearing on remand was held on January 14, 1985, at the conclusion of which the Court directed both parties to submit proposed findings of fact and conclusions of law. On the basis of these submissions, the testimony and other evidence adduced at the hearing, and the arguments of counsel, I conclude that the post-injunction testing of the Fort Howard machine constituted a willful infringement of the Paper Converting patent.

Magna-Graphics contends that >t worked closely with its attorney in its efforts to complete the Fort Howard machine without, infringing the patent and violating the injunction. On the issue of testing, MagnaGraphics was generally advised not to assemble the whole infringing combination, at least not within the United States. In light of this advice, Magna-Graphics employees devised and conducted the two-stage testing procedure at issue; but the attorney was never consulted as to whether this specific procedure would infringe Hie patent, nor was a written opinion requested.

This case differs from other cases on willful infringement because Magna-Graphics had already been found to have infringed the patent at issue and had to be especially careful to avoid contempt. Nonetheless, Magna-Graphics acted on oral opinions of counsel which were presented ip generalized terms, without requesting further elaboration after the specific test procedure was conceived and implemented. I find that a reasonably prudent person would have checked the specific test procedure with counsel, especially when acting under an injunction, and would have obtained a written opinion of counsel for the inevitable day in court. Consequently, I can only conclude that under the totality of the circumstances, Magna-Graphics post-injunction infringing activities were willful.

In the accounting phase of this action, the Court denied Paper Converting’s mo tion for attorneys’ fees pursuant to 35 U.S.C. § 285. 576 F.Supp. at 980. Tn remanding the case for further findings the appellate court noted that if the continued infringement was willful, it was done in contempt of court, and remedies beyond the trebling of damages may be appropriate. 745 F.2d at 20, 21. Pursuant to this direction, Paper Converting has moved for an award of attorneys’ fees and expenses for the time spent proving an infringement for the Fort Howard machine under the general equity power of the Court relating [662]*662to contempt. I find that the treble damage award which is hereby reinstated is adequate under the circumstances, and the motion for attorneys’ fees will be denied.

Pursuant to Rule 52(a) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, the discussion above shall constitute a portion of the Court’s findings of fact and conclusions of law. In addition, the Court makes the following specific findings of fact and conclusions of law which are adapted with minor modifications from those submitted by the plaintiff.

FINDINGS OF FACT

1. The patent-in-suit Reissue No. 28,353 pertains to a rewinder for toilet paper and toweling where high speed operation is achieved by separating the steps of web cutoff and transfer of the cut web to the core of a new roll. The Scott machine embodied the patented cutoff and transfer mechanisms and was adjudicated an infringement in the Court’s Judgment of February 26, 1981. Magna-Graphics was immediately apprised of the Court’s judgment and filed a motion on March 2, 1981 under Fed.R.Civ.P. 60(b) to amend the Court’s findings relative to willful infringement and treble damages.

2. When Magna-Graphics learned of the judgment, the Fort Howard machine was approximately 80% complete and a cutoff and transfer mechanism similar to that in the Scott machine was proposed for the Fort Howard machine. However, the Fort Howard cutoff and transfer mechanisms had not been installed and tested.

3. Thereupon, Magna-Graphics undertook consideration of substitute cutoff and transfer mechanisms which would not be infringing. This was with the approval of Fort Howard who met with Magna-Graphics on March 16, 1981:

“We expect to hear from you on March 20,1981, regarding the possibility of temporarily substituting a non-infringing cutoff and transfer mechanism in the winder.”

4. On March 31, 1981 Fort Howard and Magna-Graphics conferred, the confirmation of Fort Howard stating:

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Bluebook (online)
631 F. Supp. 660, 228 U.S.P.Q. (BNA) 524, 1985 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 19401, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/paper-converting-machine-co-v-magna-graphics-corp-wied-1985.