United Drug Co. v. Parodney

24 F.2d 577, 1928 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 998

• Court: District Court, E.D. New York
• Decided: January 9, 1928
• Status: Published

Opinion

INCH, District Judge.

Plaintiff brings suit to obtain a decree forbidding tbe defendant from using tbe name “United Drug.” Defendant has duly answered. ’ Jurisdiction is based upon tbe diversity of citizenship of tbe parties, and same has been duly proved.

Tbe plaintiff is a Massachusetts corporation, resident in said state. Tbe defendant is a resident of tbe state of Hew York. Tbe complaint alleges unfair competition on tbe¡ part of tbe defendant by bis use of tbe said name “United Drug Exchange.” Ho money damages are sought. Tbe sole relief asked for is a permanent injunction, forbidding tbe use of said name by defendant.

Tbe case was carefully tried by able trial counsel, and a considerable latitude was allowed by tbe court in regard to tbe introduction of evidence owing to tbe nature of the suit. Most excellent briefs have been submitted, and they have been of great assistance to tbe court. There is, however, no necessity for quoting in this opinion tbe many cases thus presented, for, once tbe essential facts in this case have been ascertained, tbe law applicable thereto is well settled. British-American Tobacco Co., Lim., v. British-American Cigar Stores Co., 211 F. 933, Ann. Cas. 1915B, 363 (C. C. A. 2d).

Tbe facts briefly are that about 25 years ago plaintiff was organized as a Hew Jersey corporation under tbe name “United Drug Company.” Tbe reason for tbe selection of this name will be hereafter referred to. Tbe business continued until a reorganization occurred, when as a part of such reorganization a Hew York corporation was formed, in 1916, also having tbe name of “United Drug Company.” Shortly thereafter, in tbe same year, tbe present plaintiff, tbe Massachusetts corporation, having tbe same name, “United Drug Company,” was there incorporated. Plaintiff has not filed a certificate in tbe office of tbe secretary of state, -state of Hew York, under tbe General Corporation Law of tbe state. Laws 1927, c. 425, § 15; McKinney’s Corp. Laws of New York, vol. 22.

It thus appears that this business has always been conducted, during- a quarter of a century, under tbe name “United Drug Company” ; that tbe business has bad three residences, first Hew Jersey, then Hew York, and finally Massachusetts. During all this time this business has gradually increased, until to-day, under the name “United Drug Company,” plaintiff sells in every state and important city of the country. It also manufactures a considerable portion of its products. The remainder of its merchandise consists of well-known articles. Its method of merchandising is to and through many thousands of independent retail drug stores. These drug stores are not owned by the plaintiff, but are selected as leading drug stores in a community, and by such selection they become known as stores so expressly selected and approved of by plaintiff. This selection is made to the public by a sign showing that they are, for example, a “Rexall” or a “Liggett” store; these being chains of stores that occupy prominent places in the principal cities and towns and are operated by independent corporations.

Plaintiff likewise sells to any drug store anywhere in the country, or to the public directly, where its products are not accessible to such consumer by reason of there being no selected drug store in that community. According to the testimony, 70 per cent, of the merchandise manufactured by plaintiff bears the name “United Drug Company.” The total amount of such product was recently $28,000,000. In addition there is a large amount of the merchandise not so manufactured by plaintiff, but sold and handled by it in the way above described, a large proportion of which is also marked “United Drug Company.” This is for the purpose of indicating to the public plaintiff’s approval of the product. The total amount of sales of this plaintiff recently amounted to approximately $90,000,500.

It appears beyond a doubt, from the proof, that plaintiff is one of the largest sellers of drug store merchandise in the world. Its merchandise must- have been found worthy by the public, and the standard of quality of its products been recognized, for there has been an ever-increasing use and demand for same both by individuals and by drug stores. The reputation, therefore, of the plaintiff, does not rest upon some unusual, expensive and sudden advertising campaign. It is the result of years of steady growth, during all of which time the public has been taught to identify plaintiff’s goods and its approval of goods manufactured by others, by the use of the name “United Drug Company.”

During these years an immense amount of money has been spent for that purpose. Millions of circulars, advertisements, labels, etc., have been used. I find no difficulty in finding from the evidence that the name “United Drug” has become fixed in the minds of the consumer, whether such consumer be a retail druggist or the ultimate consumer, those who buy over the counter of a drug store. A secondary meaning of the name “United Drug” has resulted.

Throughout the United States the products and merchandise of the plaintiff are now referred to, ordered, or asked for by many drug stores and individual consumers as that of the “United Drug.” This is an identification, mark, widely used, which belongs- to plaintiff, which plaintiff has created by expenditure of large sums of money, and honest and skillful management, and which it is entitled to keep unless voluntarily relinquished.

Theoretically and perhaps practically as well this hard-earned right is as important as money in the bank. It should not be taken, or even nibbled away, by another, any more than any of the dollars should be taken from its bank, against its protest and without right in law or equity to do so. The rightful appropriation or the wrongful appropriation by another of such substantial property belonging to plaintiff, in connection with the ultimate disposal of merchandise, is really the serious question involved in this suit.

A court of equity need not wait for the appropriation to actually take place, such as a court of law must do, if it plainly and clearly appears that such wrongful appropriation. is extremely probable and plainly likely to take place. A court of equity, so to speak, can “lock the stable door before the horse is stolen.” Of course, it should only so interfere where a clear case is shown. Business should not be unduly interfered with because of extravagant claims or mere fears and suspicions. I mention this in consequence of the argument of defendant for a narrower view as to the court’s right to interfere.

Finally, plaintiff’s business is entirely interstate. Its orders are received and filled at Boston. In 1916, as a New York corporation, it had the corporate name given to it of “United Drug Company.” The business within this state was transferred to the Massachusetts corporation and the New York corporation ceased to exist. However, this does not prevent the Massachusetts corporation from selling merchandise into the state of New York. The fact that plaintiff does a very large business throughout the United States, under the name “United Drug Company” is undisputed.

Let us now consider the defendant. The defendant, Abraham Parodney, in 1904, was a registered pharmacist. He remained a druggist until 1912. He was thus entirely familiar with the drug trade. In 1912 he went from the retail drug store into the wholesale line, under the name of the “National Drug Supply Company.” Then he sold out and went back into the retail drug store business. He, however, continued to do a little jobbing and to handle occasional items wholesale. While he was in the wholesale line he had met a Mr. Arronson. Mr. Arronson was also in the wholesale line under the name of the “Royal Drug Company.” Parodney and Arronson thereafter decided to go into a partnership. It is apparent that both Arronson and the defendant, Parodney, were well equipped with knowledge of the entire trade in drug supplies. This was in 1914. The plaintiff’s merchandise that year was on sale in several thousand retail drug stores. It was then an extensive advertiser in the leading periodicals. It was then publishing very large catalogues selling its goods all over the United State's. The evidence shows that even two years before (1912) it was doing a business of over $5,000,000. It was in 1914 plainly one of the leading drug companies of the country and was a success.

I cannot assume, or even believe, that two such experienced men as defendant and Arronson did not know all about the plaintiff, the quality and demand for its goods, and its then standing in the trade in which they had been for 10 years. There is nothing to indicate to the contrary in the evidence. Thereupon Arronson and the defendant changed the name of their company, “Royal Drug Company” (it was not incorporated) to the “United Drug Exchange.” Later Arronson ceased to be a partner, and the defendant continued and still continues to conduct the business by means of this trade-name, the certificate for which has been duly filed according to the laws of the state of New York. His principal place of business is in New York City.

The evidence shows that he manufactures a portion of his merchandise. The balance he wholesales, although there is testimony that what is considered by him to be wholesale is several or more articles. We likewise find that defendant extensively pushes his merchandise, distributing over 30,000 catalogues a year by mail to druggists all over the United States. He uses a large amount of catalogues, letterheads, billheads, etc., all marked “United Drug Exchange.” I am perfectly satisfied from the proof that both the plaintiff and defendant are doing the same kind of business, are oftentimes reaching the same customers, and that both are equipped to enter each other’s field completely. They have entered the same field on numerous occasions.

There is nothing in this case which prevents either' the plaintiff or the defendant from selling to whom they please in such field, nor does the plaintiff complain of such kind of competition. All the plaintiff seeks is that, when defendant does so compete, he compete fairly, and not unfairly, under a name which has become considered plaintiff’s name. In other words, defendant should not intentionally appropriate to himself this property of plaintiff’s withoiit its consent and against its protest.

The injunction sought, therefore, is not against the sale of drug supplies by defendant. There is no proof that defendant ever sold plaintiff’s drugs as his own. However, if the testimony of these witnesses for plaintiff is true, and I believe it is, defendant has gained a considerable advantage in the trade by the subtle fact that he has created intentionally a widespread confusion as to the product of plaintiff and defendant. Orders have been received by defendant that were intended" for plaintiff." Cheeks have 1 been made to plaintiff .and sent to defendant with such orders. Defendant has changed the payee of cheeks (plaintiff's) to that of his own trade-name and kept the money, for the reason that he thereby sold his own goods in this confusion.

It is unnecessary to detail this testimony. The fact that confusion is clearly present is sufficient. Nor is the injunction sought against the word “United.” That is not the ground of complaint on the part of plaintiff. What is complained of is, not the nature of the business, nor the use of any single word, but is the appropriation unfairly by the defendant of the words “United Drug” in a line of business the same as that conducted by the plaintiff under the name “United Drug.”

Defendant’s counsel argues that the giving of'this exclusive right to plaintiff would prevent any other concern from using the name “United,” such, for example, the large United Cigar Store Company. In making this argument he misconceives the ground upon which the relief is asked for in this suit. Nothing here decided would prevent a cigar company from innocently selling drugs and drug store supplies, nor any company from doing' the same thing. If the United Cigar Company should change its name to United Drug Company for the specific purpose of selling drugs in competition with plaintiff, it not only could be stopped, but ought to be stopped. In my opinion, such company would itself agree that it should be stopped.

We find, therefore, that plaintiff has obtained, throughout the trade, a secondary meaning for its name “United Drug”; That this has been obtained through a long period of years, by the expenditure of large sums of money and reliable business methods, together with a standard quality of goods, which have met the approval of a great number of druggists throughout the entire United States, and necessarily of the “man in the street,” upon whom the retail druggist depends for a living.

We likewise find that the defendant intentionally changed his business name to one substantially similar to plaintiff’s, and is , doing a business in substantital competition with plaintiff under such name, although, apparently, in regard to some articles somewhat cheaper, and that both druggists and, what is more important, consumers have in many instances been confused. Gulden v. Chance (C. C. A.) 182 F. 303. It is equally clear by convincing proof that such confusion is more and more likely to arise as the defendant’s business grows.

This would séem sufficient for the court to interfere, not to prevent the defendant from doing business, but to stop this intentional confusion or likelihood of confusion, by directing that defendant eliminate from his trade-name the words “United Drug.”

There are one or two other matters that should be mentioned.

First. It may be considered how plaintiff and defendant came to choose their respective names. Plaintiff’s reason is entirely reasonable and plain. The plaintiff was called the “United Drug Company” because it was the result of a union of a number of druggists. ’The druggists united under a common leadership. What could be more natural than to call the result the United Drug Company? -

The defendant, however, with his partner, Arronson, was going along pretty well, apparently, under the name of the Boyal Drug Company but he says that, as war had been declared, evidently meaning, as this was in 1914, between Germany and England, they thought that it would be more patriotic in this country to abandon the word “Boyal” and take the word “United.” If this is so, it would have made the name of his company “United Drug Company.”

Slight things often indicate the truth. However logical defendant’s motive was, as to which there may be some unable to see such existing dissatisfaction with the word “Boyal” at that time, yet it seems plain that for some reason defendant was unwilling to call his business “United Drug Company,” which certainly was a good name for his purpose, but took off the “Company” and put in “Exchange.” I am satisfied that this was done because the defendant well knew of the business of plaintiff.

Defendant further says that he used the word “Exchange” because at that time a large part of his business was “exchanging of drugs”; that is, he would exchange with a customer other merchandise for that in which the customer was overstocked. This was selling goods just the same, although a species of barter. The testimony on the trial shows that while this may be' still a part of defendant’s business, the catalogues, circulars, etc., urge straight sales. In my opinion, no such purpose could justify the use of “United Drug.” The plaintiff does not complain of the word “Exchange.”

The next thing is that plaintiff was first in the field, and to defendant’s knowledge had become well known in that field long before defendant entered it. Under such circumstances as here, the first comer who establishes should have some protection. Hanover Star Milling Co. v. Metcalf, 240 U. S. 403, page 415, 36 S. Ct. 357, 60 L. Ed. 713.

Finally, the question of whether or not equity will aid the plaintiff in this case, because plaintiff is a foreign corporation, without certificate from the state of New York. The principle that I had in mind at the time that I raised this question at the trial was the principle that I seemed to recall in such cases as Mutual Export v. Mutual Export (D. C.) 241 F. 137, now cited by plaintiff in its brief. A careful study of this question now convinces me that such fact is no bar to this suit. Plaintiff’s business is purely interstate, and unfair competition with it by any one, provided proper jurisdiction is obtained, can be passed upon by this-court. It is not the concrete right to do business in a state that is in question, but the right of a corporation of any state, rightfully doing business, to be free from unfair competition on the part of any one in any state. There is no restriction on interstate commerce by the New York State statutes, and Judge Hand expressly says at page. 138 (Mutual Export v. Mutual Export, supra): “Henee a foreign corporation can restrain the use by a domestic corporation of a trade name similar to its own when such name is ehosen by the domestic corporation with notice of the name and. business of the' foreign corporation, even though the latter has obtained no authorization to do business in New York. This is well settled and the equity is based upon the prevention of fraud.” Cases cited.

The facts also in that case were entirely different from the facts before me. See, also, Wing v. McCallum (D. C.) 16 F.(2d) 645. Nor is the defendant a corporation. He has simply selected a “trade-name.”

Defendant urges that, even though plaintiff he entitled to an injunction on the facts, it should not be granted because of “laches.” All that need be said as to this is that, while equity favors the diligent, and may refuse to interfere where a party has unduly delayed, and resulting damages will arise to defendant because of such neglect and delay (France Milling v. Washburn-Crosby [C. C. A.] 7 F.[2d] 304, writ denied 268 U. S. 706, 45 S. Ct. 640, 69 L. Ed. 1168), no such facts appear in this case.

In 1922 plaintiff first became aware of defendant’s unfair competition. Immediately the attention of defendant was called to the matter. The correspondence between defendant’s attorneys and the attorneys for plaintiff finally culminated in this lawsuit. Surely plaintiff cannot be blamed for attempting to settle the matter amicably) nor has there been any undue delay, except a natural reluctance to engage in an expensive lawsuit to protect its rights, unless absolutely forced to do so. It was so forced, and the result of the trial satisfies me, after a more careful examination of the testimony, in addition to a careful observance of the witnesses on the stand, and due consideration of the excellent briefs and eases therein cited, that plaintiff should have a decree.

I am satisfied that defendant has taken the name “United Drug” deliberately and because of his knowledge of plaintiff’s- standing, and there is clear and convincing proof that unfair competition has thus been caused, and that defendant has appropriated and is plainly likely to appropriate some of the value of this name, which has a secondary meaning in the trade, and which is the sole property of the plaintiff.

Decree for plaintiff.