Rumford Chemical Works v. Hecker

20 F. Cas. 1338, 1 Ban. & A. 135

• Court: U.S. Circuit Court for the District of New Jersey
• Decided: April 15, 1874
• Status: Published

Opinion

NIXON, District Judge.

Two motions are made in this ease by the counsel of the respective parties: (1) A motion, on behalf ol the complainant, that the cause be set down for trial at the present term; and, (2) a motion, on behalf of the defendant, for a eon- | tinuance to the next term, and for relief from a stipulation for its trial at this term.

[For other cases involving this patent, see note to Rumford Chemical Works v. Lauer, Case No. 12,135.]

The original bill was filed September 25, JS73, and the cause was at issue on the 4th of December last. Under the 09th rule in «quity, the time for taking testimony ceased on the 4th of March, unless the time was •enlarged, by order of the court, for some special cause shown. No applieation has been made by either party for such purpose, and lienee, after notice given by the counsel of the complainant on January 24th, that the ease would go on the calendar at the March term, and after thirty days of additional time for taking testimony was procured of complainant by the defendant, and agreed to by the counsel of complainant, on the condition that the case should be put on the calendar; and argued at such time as the court would hear the same; it was placed on the calendar, and the court is now ready for the argument.

I have read all the affidavits accompanying the moving papers on each side, and •duly considered their contents. I find much to justify the complainant’s motion, that the cause should be set down peremptorily forbearing at this term, and little to authorize the court to grant the defendant’s motion for a continuance to the September term, except the protracted indisposition of Mr. Keller. For that reason alone, I am inclined to yield to the defendant’s request., Mr. Keller’s intimate connection with, and control over, the previous cases, in which the subjects and questions of the present case were largely involved, not only render his services of peculiar value to the defence, but make it difficult to supply his place with other counsel.

No question is raised in regard to the present unsettled condition of his health. The certificate of his family physician, Dr.Weber, is dear upon this point. He says: “In my opinion, three months, at least, of absolute rest will be required to restore Mr. Keller’s health, so as to enable him to undertake the professional labors, and undergo the mental anxieties, connected with important law suits; and I have no doubt that any attempt on his part, to do -so before, will be followed by renewed attacks of pneumonia, and that not only his health will be injured, much more than it is «ven now, but also his life may be put in ■danger.”

The court listens more readily to such a suggestion, as a reason for postponement, when it comes at the first term after issue joined. It would not be a safe ground to rely upon •ordinarily, when the proceedings have been long pending, and the sickness of long standing.

However desirable it may be to the complainant to have the hearing before the summer vacation, in which desire we are in full -sympathy, the reasons disclosed by the defendant for a continuance of the case, under existing circumstances, are deemed sufficient to authorize the court to grant his motion, and it is ordered accordingly.

In regard to the request of the complainant that an injunction should issue against the defendant, if his motion should be allowed, it is only needful to add, that the case, presented upon the bill and answer, is not one for a provisional injunction; and- no intimations have been made to the court that the defendant is not entirely responsible. If such proof had been offered, the court, on allowing the motion, would have been strongly inclined to require ample security of the defendant, for the payment of all damages and profits, for the subsequent use of the alleged infringed patent of the complainant, upon the failure to file which, an injunction would have been ordered until the hearing and final decree.