Panoualias v. National Equipment Co., 269 F. 630

Panoualias v. National Equipment Co.

269 F. 630 | 2d Cir. | 1920

HOUGH, Circuit Judge

(after stating the facts as above). The propriety of the orders under review depends upon whether infringement by the “divided belt” machine is or is hot involved in this suit in equity. When plaintiff, having acquiesced in the decision of this court (110 C. C. A. 430, 188 Fed. 211), filed his supplemental bill so as to claim broadly for any infringements of claims 37 and 38, it is plain that, not only was defendant making and selling the “divided belt” machine, but plaintiff knew it.

When the cause came to trial, plaintiff took the position that he would not “demand for profits or damages” in respect of the “divided belt” device, but would “simply ask the ordinary injunction against the infringement of claims 37 and 38.” Apparently his reason for this proceeding was that, if he had “an injunction [he could] proceed to punish for contempt if it is violated”; and his counsel stated,,that proceedings under the injunction were “the proper place to determine whether the change is substantial or colorable,' and whether the ‘net? *632machine is contrary to the injunction restraining them from infringing these two claims of our patent.”

The court permitted the trial to proceed on these terms, and by its interlocutory decree of June 15th ordered a recovery of the profits, etc., derived by defendant through “the manufacture or sale of candy-coating machines substantially like the defendant’s machine in said action at law in infringement of claims 37 and 38.” The situation was not changed by this language, for if the “divided belt” machine was substantially the device of claims 37 and 38, it was also the equivalent of the “single belt” machine, which was the infringement proved in the action at law.

This decree also directed the issuance of a perpetual injunction, which was to be directed generally .against machines embracing “the invention described in claims 37 and 38.” We have no evidence before us that such injunction was ever issued, but the preliminary injunction issued after our affirmance of the action at law, and still in force, is equally broad, and plainly covers any machine which in any way infringes claims 37 and 38.

We are thus satisfied as matter of fact that plaintiff, during the pendency of this plenary suit against one alleged to infringe by manufacturing and selling, has instituted against the same defendant an action at law to recover a portion of what he is entitled to in this suit, and three actions at law against customers of the defendant knowing them to be such customers, while knowing that defendant had assumed to defend its customers’ use. It is avowed in argument that the reason for this multiplication- of suits is a preference for proceeding before a jury.

[1] Plaintiff’s legal proposition is in effect that, by not demanding (i. e., waiving) profits and damages in respect of the divided-belt device, while insisting on an injunction which restrained its manufacture, sale, and use, he reserved the right to sue elsewhere. No authority exists for such splitting of action, and it is opposed to fundamental rules; for a cause, once properly in a court of equity for any purpose, will ordinarily be retained for all purposes. Camp v. Boyd, 229 U. S. 552, 33 Sup. Ct. 785, 57 L. Ed. 1317. A “waiver” of pecuniary recovery made at trial, while insisting on injunction, cannot be construed as a lawful segregation for future litigation of the recovery waived. Indeed, waiver implies abandonment, not reservation for future use.

The methods of testing a changed infringement have been recently considered in this court, and where the change is more than merely colorable we adhere to our preference for a supplemental bill. Gordon, etc., v. Turco, etc., Co., 247 Fed. 490, and cases cited, 159 C. C. A. 541. In this case there was no necessity for such proceeding, because the original bill was so amended, after the change in defendant’s device was well known, as to cover any and' all infringements, whether by a single or a divided belt, and both alleged infringements were before the court at the time of the trial.

[2] Even if it were suggested (as it is not) that there are claims other than Nos. 37 and 38 which may be infringed by the divided belt *633machine, since that device was before the trial court, it was the duty of plaintiff then and there to put forth all the claims that were infringed. Bryant Electric Co. v. Marshall (C. C.) 169 Fed. 426, affirmed 185 Fed. 499, 107 C. C. A. 599. And the rule is the same in respect of damages and profits arising from infringements, not presented to the trial court, but which might have been so presented. Horton v. New York Central, etc., Co. (C. C.) 63 Fed. 897.

It follows that the order entered April 29, 1919, was right, and is affirmed, with costs.

Since in this case the reference to the master has not yet been considered, it cannot now be said how full a recovery plaintiff will obtain; and it is certainly true that it must be decided in this case whether the divided belt machine does or does not infringe claims 37 and 38; and the users defendant, in the actions complained of, employ that style. Until such decision is reached, the actions against users must be stayed, as in Stebler v. Riverside, etc., Ass’n, 214 Fed. 550, 131 C. C. A. 96, L. R. A. 1915F, 1101.

The order of January 9, 1920, is reversed, with costs, and the court below directed to enjoin the prosecution of plaintiffs actions against defendant’s customers until the termination of this present suit in equity.