Union National Bank of Youngstown v. United States

127 F. Supp. 199, 130 Ct. Cl. 479, 104 U.S.P.Q. (BNA) 114, 1955 U.S. Ct. Cl. LEXIS 44

• Court: United States Court of Claims
• Decided: January 11, 1955
• Docket: No. 49085; No. 49281
• Status: Published

Opinion

Laramoee, Judge,

delivered the opinion of the court:

These cases come before the court on plaintiffs’ motions to strike certain paragraphs of defendant’s answers.

In these actions plaintiffs are seeking recovery from defendant of their reasonable and entire compensation for the unlicensed and unlawful use by defendant of the inventions described in and covered by XT. S. Letters Patent No. 1,744,016 and No. 1,779,195. There are two counts in each petition, the first of which relates to the unlicensed and unlawful use of the inventions of said patents by or for the defendant acting by or through the Defense Plant Corporation. The second count of each petition relates to unlicensed and unlawful use of the inventions covered by said patents by others acting on behalf of the defendant.

Defendant, in each case, has filed answer in 50 paragraphs, including a number of paragraphs, namely 31, 43, 45, 46, 47, and 49, which plaintiffs say contain immaterial, impertinent, scandalous allegations which are insufficient as defenses in these actions, and that they assert matters which have been adjudicated adversely to the defendant in United States v. Cold Metal Process Co. et al., 62 F. Supp. 127, aff’d, 164 F. 2d 754, cert. den., 334 U. S. 811, petition for rehearing denied 334 U. S. 835.

Plaintiffs have moved, pursuant to rule 16 of this court, to strike said paragraphs of answer on the grounds as stated above.

Defendant admits in argument and in its brief that the parties to both suits are the same, but says that since different legal claims were asserted in the cancellation case (United States v. Cold Meted Process Co. et al., supra) from those asserted here, plaintiffs’ motion to strike should be deified.

. We cannot agree with the contention of defendant. The authorities are to the contrary. Cromwell v. County of Sac, 94 U. S. 351; United States v. Moser, 266 U. S. 236; Henderson v. U. S. Radiator Corporation, 78 F. 2d 674; Southern Pacific Railroad Company v. United States, 168 U. S. 1; National Labor Relations Board v. Brown & Root Inc., et al., 203 F. 2d 139; Hubbell v. United States, 171 U. S. 203, 209; Bates v. Bodie, 245 U. S. 520, 526; State of Oklahoma v. State of Texas et al., 256 U. S. 70, 85; Tait, Collector of Internal Revenue v. Western Maryland Railway Co., 289 ; Larsen v. Northland Transportation Co., 292 U. S. 20, 25.

Therefore, paragraphs 31, 43, 45, 46, 47, and 49 should be stricken for the reason that the issues raised thereby are res judicata against the defendant here and not a defense in these actions.

It is so ordered.

MaddeN, Judge; Whitakee, Judge; LittletoN, Judge; and JoNes, Chief Judge, concur.