CHATTANOOGA MEDICINE CO.
v.
THEDFORD.
347
by the policy, he exposed himself to unnecessary danger, and did nat exhibit due regard for his personal safety, such as an O1uinarily prudent man, charged with the same duty, and placed in like cir· cumstances, would have done, were questions of fact for the determination of the jury. We are asked to review their finding, but as the defendant did not ask a peremptory instruction, at the close of all the evidence, for a verdict in its behalf, we cannot con· sider the question whether the verdict of the jury was warranted by the testimony. The truthfulness of the agent's testimony was not questioned. Its competency and legal effect, only, were disput· ed. In view of the legal effect of the facts testified to by the agent, the court did not err in telling the jury that, if the plaintiff was entitled to recover at all, his recovery should be for one-third of the principal sum of the policy, that being the amount fixed by the terms of the policy for the loss of a hand. Finding no error in the record, the judgment of the circuit court is affirmed. CHATTANOOGA MEDICINE CO v. THEDFORD et aL THEDFORD et al. v. CHATTANOOGA MEDICINE CO. (Circuit Court, N. D. Georgia. 1. TION.
November 3, 1893.:
TRADE-N.ums-TRANSFER OF RIGHT TO USE ONE'S OWN NAME -CONSTRUC-
A contract whereby one parts with the right to use his own name in a certain trade connection will not be extended by the courts any furtlier than the clear tenns of the agreement show his intention to do so.
2.
SAME.
Where one conveys the exclusive right to the use of his name in con· nection with "Simmons' Liver Medicine," the grantees are not entitied to protection against him when they have ceased to sell or advertise that medicine, and are using his name in advertising and selling a different medicine. 49 Fed. Rep. 949, reaffinned. Where one claiming the exclusive right under a contract to use the name of another in the sale of patent medicines files a bill against him to enjoin a violation thereof, whereupon the latter files an alleged cross bill to enjoin complainant from making a use of the name not authorized by the contract, this latter bill is not a true cross bill, but an original bill.
.
8.
EQUITY PLEADING-CROSS BILL.
In Equity. Bill by the Chattanooga Medicine Company against M. A. Thedford and W. J. Satterfield to enjoin the use of a tradename. Defendants filed a cross bill asking the same relief. A pre· liminary injunction was heretofore denied. 49 Fed. Rep. 949. The case is now on first hearing. Decree for defendants on the original bill, and decree dismissing the cross bill. John L. Hopkins & Sons and J. T. Lupton, for complainant. N. J. & T. A. Hammond and C. P. Goree, for defendants. NEWMAN, District Judge. This case has now been heard for final decree on the bill, answer, and evidence. The bill seeks to enjoin the M. A. Thedford Medicine Oompany, of Rome, Ga., from
348
FEDERAL REPORTER,
vol. 58.
the manufacture, advertisement, and sale of what is known as "Thedford's Liver Invigorator." The facts in the case are shown with sufficient fullness. in the statement of facts and in the opinion filed by the court on the application for temporary injuncti<lll, and reported in 49 Fed. Rep. 949. Much testimony has been taken, and has been heard by the court. The case has also been fully argued, and elaboraJte briefs submitted, by counsel on both sides; and the court has held the matter up for some time, in order to give it full consideration. The main question in the case is now, as it was at the preliminary hearing,as to the right acquired by Smith, McKnight & Patten under their contract with M. A. Thedford, of date November 26, 1876, and as to the extent to which Thedford parted with the right to use his name in connection with liver medicines, and, consequently, what right remains in him as to such use. This court held on a former hearing that "Thedford only parted with the right to use his name in connection with Dr. Simmons' Liver Medicine." After the sale by Thedford to Patten and his associ· ates, the A. Q. Simmons Liver Medicine Company was organized for the purpose of making, advertising, and selling Dr. A. Q. Simmons' Liver Medicine. This company commenced and continued the business until it was enjoined from using Dr. Simmons' name on its wrappers and advertising matter by a decree of the United States circuit court for the eastern district of Tennessee in a suit by J. H. Zeilin & Co., of Philadelphia, against the Simmons Company. After this injunction, and after the company was compelled to. drop the name of Dr. A. Q. Simmons from its literature, the Ohat· tanoogaMedicine Company was organized, and became its successor. It then commenced, and fs now engaged in, the manufacture of what is called "1\.1: A. Thedford's Original and Only Genuine Liver Medicine or Black Draught," claiming the right to so designate its medicine by reason of the contract with Thedford made in November, 1876. The evidence shows that there were transfers in writing from Smith, McKnight & Patt-en to the A. Q. Simmons Livel' Medicine Company, and from that company to the Ohattanooga Medicine Company, and shows, further, that these transfers were destroyed in a fire which occurred at the manufactory of the Chattanooga Medicine Company. Z. O. Patten, who is now president of the Chattanooga Medicine Oompany, and has been connected with both companies, testifies that all the rights acquired by himself and his associates from Thedford were thus regularly transferred to the A. Q. ,Simmons Medicine Oompany, and by it to the Ohattanooga Medicine Company. The wrappers, such as were used by the A. Q. Simmons Liver Medicine Company, and a poster used by it, have been put in evidence. They show that the medicine was presented to the public as ''Dr. A. Q. Simmons' Original and Only Genuine Vegetable Liver Medicine, 'Manufactured by the Dr. A. Q. Simmons Liver Medicine 00., Successors to M. A. Thedford & Co." There is, also, on both wrappers and poster, an excellent picture of Dr. A. Q. Simmons, (judging by his photograph, which is in evidence,) and underneath it appear the words, "Trade-Mark, Registered." The evidence shows that this picture was regularly registered as the
CHATTANOoGA MEDICINE CO. V. THEDFORD.
349
trade-mark of the A. Q. Simmons Liver Medicine Company in the proper office at Washington. Now, this becomes important, in view of a contention as to the construction to be given to the use of the term "trade-mark" in the contract between The4ford and Patten and his associates. It is contended that this term was not used in any technical sense, but that the intention of the parties was rather the transfer of its use as a firm name. Now, even if the intention of the parties was the use of Thedford's name as a trade-mark, in a technical sense, it is urged that the adoption of another trade-mark, and regularly registering and using the same, was an abandonment of any such rights so acquired. It is entirely clear, as was stated in' the former opinion in this case, that Thedford sold the right to use his name in connection with Dr. A. Q. Simmons' Liver Medicine, only, and that the contract cannot fairly be extended beyond this. The action of the Simmons Liver Medicine Company in adopting the wrapper just described strongly favors the view that what Patten and his associates were buying was the Simmons Liver Medicine, and the right to advertise it and sell it as such. It further tends to show that Thedford's name was rather an incident to what was acquired than the principal thing conveyed, as counsel for complainant argue. The purpose of the parties to the contract between Thedford and Patten and his associates seems to have been, mainly, on the one hand to part with, and on the other to acquire, the right to manufacture, advertise, and sell Simmons' Liver Medicine, and then to bind Thedford not to engage thereafter in the manufacture of said Simmons' Liver Medicine, under any other name or style, unless he should repurchase the right to do so, and, in addition thereto, to give Patten and his associates the right to continue the use of the name of M. A. Thedford & Co. in their business, as it was then being used. This construction is borne out by the subsequent action of the parties, until, by reaSiOn of the decree in the Zeilin Case, they were deprived of the right to the use of Dr. A. Q. Simmons' name in the advertisement and sale of their medicine. This is especially true of the wrapper and poster which have been alluded to. It is contended on behalf of complainant that the contract referred to "makes a clean sweep of all rights and interests, present and future, that the said Thedford had, or could have had, in this liver medicine, a competing liver medicine, or any other liver medicine, so far as his name is concerned." The court cannot agree with the view that this contract has a meaning so broad. 'Where an individual parts with a/ right to the use of his own name in any given connection, the courts should not extend the contract by which he does so beyond its necessary scope. It certainly will not be held that a man has tied himself up so as to prevent the use of his own name any further than the clear terms of the agreement show his intention to do so. Now, the pleadings and proof show that the Chattanooga :Medicine Company has abandoned all pretense, so far as advertisement, wrappers, etc., to the use of Simmons' name, or to the manufacture and sale of Simmons' Liver Medicin.e, and Bihow that it is only selling,
350
OHATTANOOGA ME:PICINE CO. fl.
351
right to give them a particular designation to the trade and the public. One of the counsel for the complainant, in his brief, emphasizes this view of it in this way. He says: "If his [Thedford's] name was important, it was as a means of Identifying the medicine; and It would do just as much or more harm to, put it on a different medicine, though a competing medicine, as to put It on the one sold."
The court should have some practical reason for granting the writ of injunction. If the Chattanooga Medicine Company haos only the bare right to make the compound known as "Simmons' Liver Medicine," and no right whatever to advertise it and put it on the market as such, what injury can be had from the advertisement and sale of even the Simmons Medicine by another person? Even if Thedford was engaged in representing his medicine to the public as Dr. A. Q. Simmons' Liver Medicine, it is difficult to see wherein any harm would be done to the Chattanooga Medicine Company. In this connection it is proper to notice complainant's claim of wrongdoing on the part of the Thedford Company, of Rome, as to one feature of the wrapper used by it. On the side of the wrapper used to inclose the box conta'ining "T. L. L" is this expression: "We make a valuable tonic, formerly made by my grandfather, Dr. A. Q. Simmons, in his lifetime; and is a most excellent tonic for ladies, and fOf" nel""Vousness and general debility of either sex."
On the wrapper in which is contained the bottles of "S. V. T." is the following: "We make 'T. L. I.,' Thedford's Liver Invigorator, an excellent liver medicine for all diseases that arise from a torpid state of the liver..The only genuine has my likeness and signature on the front of each wrapper."
As to the "S. V. T.," it may be remarked that very little of it seems ,to have ever been put up, and it is mainly as to the language used on the boxes containing "T. L. I." that the complainant's contention is of any force, which is that the purpose of the Thedford Company in using it is to connect the "T. L. L" with Dr. A. Q. Simmons, thereby giving the public the idea that it is the same medicine as that formerly made l\y Dr. Simmons. This might be of some force, if the Chattanooga Medicine Company was engaged, in any way, in making the Simmons Medicine, but as has been stated, it is not. The evidence shows that the Chattanooga Company has expended a very large sum of money in advertising the medicine known as ''Thedford's Original and Only Genuine Liver lfedicine or Black Draught." "Liver Medicine" and "Black Draught" are the words which are displayed in the boldest type on the wI'apper. By reason of the Chattanooga Medicine Company's continued use of the .wrapper and of this name, and of the extensive advertis'1ng which it seems to have given it, it is this which is valuable to it. Certainly, the particular matter now being discussed cannot in any way interfere therewith. If the Chattanooga Medicine Company had the right, and was making Simmons' Medicine, this might be a proper subject of complaint, but, as matters now are, it is deemed immaterial.
352
·
FEJ)ERAL REPORTER;
After the decision in this case on the application for tempo}'ai:v injunction, what pUI'ported to be a cross bill was filed by defendant against complainant, the ptlTpose being to enjoin the original complainant from the use of the name of M. A. Thedford as they are now using it on the wrappers of their medicine, and in advertising, etc. Service was made on the counsel for the Chattanooga Medicine Company res'iding in this district. A motion was made to dismiss the service on the ground that the pleadings filed as a cross bill did not make a good cross bill, and that, consequently, it was not a case for substituted service. This motion was overruled, the bill retained, and substituted service sustained; the court stating, however, that it would not then determine how far relief could be granted under it. A brief opinion was filed, in disposing of this motion," in which the expression was used that the contract between Thedford and Patten and his associates is the "subject-matter" of the original bill. This is now considered to have been erroneous. While the contract is a prominent feature of the matters set up in the original bill, and of the litigation, it cannot be said to have been the subject·matter of the suit. The proper purpose of a cross bill is to obtain discovery, or to obtain a full determination of a matter already in court. The purpose of the original bill in th'is case was to determine the right of M. A. Thedford & Co., of Rome, to manufacture, advertise, and sell the medicine known as "T. L. I." In order to determine this, it is not necessary to have any decision or decree as to the right of the Chattanooga Medicine Company to do what it is now doing. It may be true that a determination of the right of the Thedford Medicine Company, of Rome, to carry on its business, involves some consideration of what complainant's rights are as to the use of Thedford's name; but it is not at all necessary, in order that the defendants may have a complete determination of the· questions raised against them in the original suit, that their cross bill should be entertained and heard. The supreme court, in the case of Ayres v. Carver, 17 How. 591, states the rule in reference to a cross bill (on page 595) as follows: "A cross bill is brought by a defendant in a suit against the plaintiff in the same suit, or against other defendants in the same suit, or against both, touching the matters in question in the original bill. It is brought either to obtain a discovery of facts, in aid of the defense to the original bill, or to obtain full and complete relief to all parties, as to the matter charged in the original bill. It should not introduce new and distinct matters not embraced in the original bill, as they cannot be properly examined in that suit, but constitute tile subject·matter of an O'1'iginal, independ·ent suit. The cross bill is auxiliary to the proceeding in the original suit, and a dependency upon it. It is said by Lord Hardwicke that both the original and cross bill constitute but one suit, so intimately are they connected together. Field v. Schieffelin, 7 Johns. Ch. 252."
This is in line with all the authorities on the subject, and supports the view now taken, that the plead'hng filed and called a "cross bill" is not good as such, and it will be dismissed, with costs. There must be a decree on the original bill in favor of defendants, denying the injunction.
M'KAY &; COP1!:LAND LASTING MACH. CO: V. CLAFLIN.
853
McKAY & COPELAND LASTING MACH. CO. v. OLAFLIN et al. SAME v. DIZER et al. (Circuit Court, D. Massachusetts. September 22, 1893.) VOMBINATION-LASTING
Nos. 2,776 and 2,786.
1.
PATENTS FOR INVENTIONS-LIMITATION OF CLAIMS MACHINES.
Claim 8 of letters patent No. 197,607, issued November 27, 1877, to Copeland, Woodward & Brock, covers "in a lasting machine, the combination of the adjustable carriage, B, provided with means for supporting an oscillating plate, and said oscillating plate, substantially as described." Held, that the words "substantially as described" refer only to the elements mentioned in the claim, namely: (1) "Adjustable carriage, B;" (2) "means for supporting an oscillating plate;" and (3) "an oscillating plate;" and that, although every combination described in the specification includes a centering foot or equivalent instrumentality for tipping the adjustable carriage, this element should not be read into the claim.
SAME-CONSTRUCTION OF CLAIMS.
Generai rules as to construction ot claims. Limitations of functions of . mechanical experts in this particular. The claim must be construed as covering a combination of only the three parts named, for use with any lasting machines to which they can be applied through any adaptable instrumentalities on the plate, and with such methods for operating all the same as may be applicable thereto. SAME-"SUBSTANTIALLY AS DESCRIBED."
4.
a. 6.
Whether the words "substantially as described" limit the "means for supporting the oscillating plate" to the ordinary pivoting arrangement, which is the only one described in the specifications, or whether the word "substantially" would include all equivalent means, is not decided; but, assuming the former construction to be correct, the claim is not Infringed by a machine which uses spring rockers for tipping the plate. Watson v. Stevens, 2 C. C. A. 500, 51 Fed. Rep. 757, distinguished.
SAME-ANTICIPATION. SAME-INVENTION.
Assuming that the claim should be broadly construed to cover every method of tipping a plate or table carrying lasting tools, it is void as claiming so universal a function as the tipping motion in its application to a use analogous to those familiar generally and in prior lasting machines.
In Equity. These were two suits for the alleged inf'ringement of letters pa:tent No. issued November 27, 1877, to Oopeland, Woodward & Brock for an improvement in. lasting machines for boots and shoes. Bills dismissed. , Fish, Bichardson & 8torrow and James J. Storrow, for complainant. John L. 8. Roberts, Elmer P. Howe, and Walter K. Griffin, for defendants. PU'DNAM, Circuit Judge. The issues in these two cases are the same. They turn on the eighth claim of the patent in suit, which reads -ll;S follows: "In a lasting machine" the combination v.58li"no.2-23