Weatherford v. Eytchison

202 P.2d 1040, 90 Cal. App. 2d 379, 81 U.S.P.Q. (BNA) 74, 1949 Cal. App. LEXIS 986
CourtCalifornia Court of Appeal
DecidedFebruary 28, 1949
DocketCiv. 16445; Civ. 16446
StatusPublished
Cited by14 cases

This text of 202 P.2d 1040 (Weatherford v. Eytchison) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering California Court of Appeal primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Weatherford v. Eytchison, 202 P.2d 1040, 90 Cal. App. 2d 379, 81 U.S.P.Q. (BNA) 74, 1949 Cal. App. LEXIS 986 (Cal. Ct. App. 1949).

Opinion

WILSON, J.

Respondents, William E. Weatherford and Mary E. Weatherford, husband and wife, are owners of a transfer and storage business which they operate under the fictitious trade names of Ford Van and Storage, Ford Moving and Storage, Ford Van Lines and Ford Transfer and Storage. They brought an action against appellants Charles W. Eytchison, Arthur L. Eytchison and Claude V. Eytchison, doing *381 business under various fictitious names, Ford Van Lines, Incorporated, and others, to enjoin them from using the word “Ford” in connection with the transfer and storage business in California. The Eytchisons filed an answer to this action. Ford Van Lines was not served.

Thereafter, Ford Van Lines, Incorporated, filed suit against the Weatherfords, seeking to enjoin them from using the word “Ford,” “Ford Van & Storage Company” or “Ford Van Lines” in connection with the transportation of goods in interstate or intrastate commerce. The Weatherfords filed an answer and a cross-complaint in which they asked for virtually the same relief as that sought by their original complaint.

The two actions were consolidated for the purpose of trial. In the suit brought by the Weatherfords, the plaintiffs recovered a judgment and the defendants were enjoined from using the word “Ford” in connection with the transfer and storage business in the State of California. In the action brought by Ford Van Lines, Incorporated, judgment was rendered in favor of defendants and cross-complainants, and Ford Van Lines, Incorporated, was enjoined from using the word “Ford” in connection with intrastate transfer and storage business. These appeals are from both judgments.

Appellant Ford Van Lines, Incorporated, first began using the name “Ford” in the transfer and storage business in 1915 in Nebraska, the name of the company at that time being Ford Delivery Company. In 1941, the name was changed to Ford Van Lines, Incorporated, under which name it is now operating. At the time these actions were filed it was engaged in business in 38 states and the District of Columbia. Its first shipment into California was in 1932 or 1933, when it moved one load. It obtained a permit in California from the Railroad Commission in 1936, which was revoked about four months later. Between 1936 and 1942 it brought a few loads into California. Between 1942 and 1945 it did some business in California and in February, 1945, it signed a contract with Arthur L. Eytchison, doing business as All American Van and Storage Company, to act as its agent in Los Angeles.

Respondent William E. Weatherford started in the transfer business in Los Angeles in 1926 or 1927 under the name Ford Transfer, changing the name to Ford Moving and Storage about two years later. In 1938, he formed a partnership with one L. E. Holt, which lasted about eight months and terminated with his selling his interest to Holt. The latter operated the business for about a year, at which time Weather- *382 ford bought it back and continued to operate it under the name Ford Van and Storage. Between the years 1930 and 1946 respondents’ business was listed in the classified section of the telephone directory under various fictitious names, all of which included the word “Ford.” They advertised in the newspapers and their trucks had painted on them the trade name.

After All American Van & Storage became agents for Ford Van Lines, Incorporated, it placed advertisements in the local newspapers under the name “Ford Van Lines,” listing a telephone number for that concern which was actually the telephone number of All American. Appellant Ford Van Lines, Incorporated, also placed a quarter-page advertisement in the December 1946 issue of the classified directory, containing four telephone numbers of AH American as well as the telephone number of Ford Van Lines, Incorporated, no distinction being made between the numbers. In a quarter-page advertisement in the June 1945 issue of the Los Angeles classified telephone directory All American represented that they were “Exclusive Agents—Ford Van Lines.”

About 95 per cent of respondents’ business is received over the telephone and after appellants’ advertisements appeared respondents suffered a loss of business of between 35 and 40 per cent.

Appellants contend that since Ford Van Lines, Incorporated, is the original owner of the word “Ford” in relation to the transfer and storage business, there are no territorial restrictions upon its use of the word and the protection which it should be afforded in that use. In support of this contention they cite section 14400 et seq., of the Business and Professions Code, Derringer v. Plate, 29 Cal. 292 [87 Am.Dec. 170], Stork Restaurant, Inc. v. Sahati, 166 F.2d 348, and Brooks Bros. v. Brooks Clothing of California, 60 F.Supp. 442. Section 14400 of the Business and Professions Code is but an affirmance of the common law (Derringer v. Plate, 29 Cal. 292, 298 [87 Am.Dec. 170], construing a similar statute). In the Derringer case defendant demurred to the complaint upon the ground that the statute concerning trademarks was in effect a repeal of the common law and in order to maintain his action the plaintiff must have shown compliance with the requirements of the statute. The court held the statute of 1863 concerning trademarks did not take away the common law remedy for their protection from those who did not register their trademarks according to the provisions *383 of the act. There is nothing in the opinion to indicate whether the plaintiff, who claimed first use of the mark in Philadelphia, or the defendant was the prior user in California.

In the Stork Restaurant case the plaintiff, operator of the Stork Club in New York, had expended some $7,000,000 in advertising on a nationwide scale by means of newspapers, radio, motion pictures and other mediums. As a result of its efforts the Stork Club was known from coast to coast and commanded patronage from visitors to New York from the United States at large. Although there was no direct competition between the parties the defendant, who operated a small restaurant in San Francisco, was enjoined from using the trade name of the prior user.

In the Brooks case, plaintiff was a New York concern established in 1818, whereas defendant was a California firm established in 1924. Plaintiff, however, had advertised goods for the California trade as early as 1850 and its goods were well known and advertised in California. The injunction was granted. In each of the latter cases the doctrine of “confusion of source” was applied.

In the instant case appellant Ford Van Lines, Incorporated, did not become regularly engaged in interstate commerce in California until 1942. Respondents have used the name continuously since 1926 and have advertised since 1931. There is nothing in the record to indicate Ford Van Lines, Incorporated, advertised or was known in California prior to 1945 when it appointed an agent and commenced to advertise. A reference to the map in its advertisement in the December 1946 issue of the telephone directory indicates it was not engaged in business west of Wyoming.

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202 P.2d 1040, 90 Cal. App. 2d 379, 81 U.S.P.Q. (BNA) 74, 1949 Cal. App. LEXIS 986, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/weatherford-v-eytchison-calctapp-1949.