PATTEN V. GLATZ.
283.
deed of trust, and in the proceedings growing out of it, or to enable Dupree to obtain a settlement of his large aggregate indebtedness, of over $200,000, would be entirely unsupported by anything fairly deducible from the evidence before us, and would be, in our opinion, utterly beyond any probability which, under the evidence, could properly be taken into account. A consideration of much weight is that the master, who heard and saw the witnesses, found unhesitatingly in favor of the intervener. The deed of trust not having provided for attorney's fees on the note, the master was correct in disallowing such fees. The decree herein, in so far as it rejects the claim of the intervener,' Evans, on the note for $2,500 and interest, is reversed, and the cause is remanded to the lower court, with instructions to grant a rehearing, to sustain the master's report as to said claim, and to proceed in accordance with the views herein expressed.
PATTEN et aI. v. GLATZ et aI. (Circuit Court, E. D. New York. May 24, 1898.) FALSE REPRESENTATIONS-SUFFICIENCY TO WARRANT SETTING TRACT. ASIDB CON-
Representations which consist partly of exaggerated expressions as to the importance and value of defendant's property, which he evidently believed to be true, partly of statements as to specific facts which were true at the time they were made, but not when the contract was entered into, and statements as to other specific facts not dcmonstrated by the evidence to be false, are not sufficient to warrant setting aside, as fraudulent, a written contract procured thereby.
Final hearing upon pleadings and proofs of a bill in equity to set aside a written contract between Patten and Glatz, wbo will be hereinafter referred to as "plaintiff" and "defendant," respectively, the other plaintiff and the other defendant being substantially nominal parties only. John Patten, per se. Briesen & Knauth, for defendants. LACOMBE, Circuit Judge. It was stated upon the argument that the record was not printed because both sides were financially embarrassed and unable to pay the expense. Assuming that they should be saved all avoidable expense, it has been most unfortunate for both sides that, in taking the testimony, such extravagant and unnecessary prolixity has been indulged in. The court, upon .a demurrer, most clearly indicated that the only issue cognizable in equity was whether the written contract had been obtained by false and fraudulent representations, and should for that reason be set aside. If plaintiff failed to sustain the affirmative of that issue, the bill should be dismissed. Whatever he might be entitled to recover under the agreement could be equally well recovered in an aCtion at law. If, on the contrary, plaintiff maintained the affirmative of such issue, the court would, no doubt, direct an accounting; but, until such issue was maintained, it would be a waste of time
284
87 FEDERAL' REPORTER.
and money to take any evidence bearing upon such accounting. The record here presented, however, is stuffed full of irrelevant matter, contains page after page of testimony concerned with transactions long subsequent to the making of the written contract, and is at least 10 times as voluminous as it should have been. The written contract which it is sought to set aside was entered into February 20, 1890. It recited that Patten had invented certain improvements in apparatus for concentrating soap lye in the manufacture of crude glycerine, described in an application for letters patent then in course of preparation; that, by other instruments of "even date, the exclusive right to use said improvements was granted to GIatz; and that Glatz was in receipt of certain roy-alties from certain soap manufacturers, to whom he had theretofore granted licenses under certain patents owned or controlled by him, covering certain processes of recovering glycerine from soap lye. By the terms of the contract, Glatz, in consideration of said exclusive right to use Patten's said improvements, agreed to "use'his best endeavors to persuade other soap manufacturers to -also take licenses for the use of said processes (1. e. Glatz's processes), and for the use of said Patten's improvements." He further agreed to keep books of account, ,and to enter therein "all the gross royalties received from any and all patents and improvements which he may license others to use for the concentration of soap lye in the manufacture of crude glycerine." This l-anguage covers licenses under any patent or improvement sep'arately, or under any two or more conjointly, on one or more of Patten's improvements, or on one or more of the "certain patents owned or controlled by" Glatz. He further agreed to pay to Patten 5 per cent. the first year, and 7t per cent. thereafter, of "all the gross royalties and moneys enumerated" in the .statements which he bound ..himself to make periodically to Patten. Patten and Glatz had been working together in this business since 1888, apparently without making much of a success of it. On January 10,1889, they entered into a written contract, which recited that Patten "claims to have invented an improved evaporating apparatus and evaporating process for which he intends to apply for letters patent," etc.; that Glatz "is desirous of obtaining the exclusive right and license to use said invention as applied to the evaporation of soap lyes, glycerine, and salt." By this contract, Patten gave to Glatz an exclusive license to make, use, and vend said apparatus and process throughout the term of any letters patent that might be secured therefor, in consideration of a fee of 50. cents per square foot of heating surface on every apparatus containing said invention. :Plaintiff avers that prior 20, 1890, this contract of January 10, 1889, had been abrpgated by consent of the parties, and a !new verbal agreement made, whereby, without being himself reo quired to contribute to any losses, Patten was to have 50 per cent. of 'any profit which Glatz 1llight make out of any plant embodying either. the improvements or . t he process, all the expenses and losses. to be borne by Glatz. .The burden of proving such agreement is, of course, upon the plaintiff, and hisjestimony tends to prove it; but in view ofthe posjtive denials of d'efenq.ant, of the inherent improba-
285
bilities, and of the failure to produce corroborating testimony by Quimby, who, according to the plaintiff's story, was informed as to the fact, I am not satisfied by any fair preponderance of proof that such verbal contract was entered into. Therefore, until the con· tract of Eebruar.y 20, 1890, was entered into, the contract of January 10, 1889, was still in force. Plaintiff asks to have this contract of 1890 vacated and set aside, on the ground that he was induced to enter into it by certain repre· sentations of Glatz, which were false and fraudulent, were made by Glatz with the knowledge that they were false, and with the fraudu· lent intent of inducing Patten to enter into the contract, which rep' resentations were material, were believed by Patten, and relied upon by him. The representations alleged in the complaint are: ''That said Glatz owned or controlled a large number of patented inventions of the controIIlng processes for the concentration of soap lye In the manufacture of crude glycerine, and haslicensed a large number of parties who were engaged in the said work, and received from said parties large sums of royalties froin said licensees, and was obliged to payout large sums In royalties for the use of said patented processes."
The testimony of the plaintiff supports the averment that such representations were made. Indeed, although covered by the denials in the answer, defendant did not tCl:ltify that he did not make such statements; nor, indeed, was he interrGgated on the point. The evidence of the plaintiff, however, dGes nGt localize these representations relatively to the contract complained of. They seem to have been made at the very outset of the intercourse between the two men, and to a large extent were then true. Certainly, at that time Glatz's rights under the Domeier and Hageman process had not been assigned toW. S..Kirk & Co. Glatz did own patents, and did have licenses to use patents, and had licensed a number of parties, and was obliged to payout sums in royalties. Whether or not the number of patents and the number of licensees and the sums paid out in royalties were "large" is difficult to determine. What looks large to one man may look small to another. It is quite likely that Glatz represented that "he had the only successful processes for properly treating soap lye," and that he "controlled the process he was using by a large number of patents." But it is equally likely that he believed his own statements (men who hold patents and exclusive licenses are apt to think they control the only method of manufacture); and he certainly acted as if he fully believed he controlled a process destined to be most profitable, at least down to the time when the Buffalo plant failed to work, and plaintiff undertook, as he says, to make it practicable. From that time plaintiff was in as good a position as the defendant to judge of the value of the process they were both experimenting with. The vague and glittering generalitie!il with which business men commend their property are not usually sufficient to warrant the setting aside of written contracts on the ground of fraudulent misrepresentations. They are rather expressions of opinion than statements of fact. The "representations" upon which plaintiff alleges that he relied are thus stated in his own language:
286
87 F.,EDERAL REPOR:rER.
"He told me that his most valuable patents related to the chemical treatm.ent of the soap lyes to prepare them for concentration; informed me that be had obtained control (}f a very large number of, patents,some (}f which he had bought. and .others he was paying royalty for their use. He said that be had about a ,dozen ,veliY valuable patents, tbat, practically controlle,d tbe art of purifying lyes., He represented that ip. pbtaining control oftha,t iJ;ldustry, that he had'secilred a very large number of patents that might prdve of no great value. On two or three occasions he stated that he controlled as higb as eighty patents,:but he did not claim that more than about a dozen of them were val'1iible"1 fle informed me that while he was all right ,with his chemical processes for tr.eatlngthe lyes preparatory for their concentration, that he had had a sad' experience with the apparatuses be bad used for concentrating them. · · · He told me that he had the only successful processes for properly treating 'soap lye. and that he controlled the processes he was using by a large number Qf patents."
Other than as to ownership or control of a large number of pat· ents, there is in this no specific representation of. fact-such as an assertion that he was receiving some stated amount of royalties, or that his profits had aggregated some named'l!mm-the truth or false· hood of which must have, been known to the defendant. There is little doubt that, when he told Patten that he controlled the only successful process, he believed he did control such a process; and there is as little doubt that heW-as mistaken in belief. But he had actually paid out money.to obtain several different patents and exclusive licenses; had made contracts with third persons under which he was to receive royalties; and he waf'! no doubt quite as much surprised as was the plaintiff when it turned out that his effort to reap some profit from his and exclusive licenses involved him in financial disaster. (and he was not contradicted) that The plaintiff, further just prior to the making of the contract of February 20, 1890"When the question of what percentage I would get out· of the whole thing came up. he represented that on one set of his patents he was paying 30 per cent. of theproflts, and that on another set he was paying 15 per cent. He made tbe remarlt that if he should pay 45 per cent. on his other patents, and 50 per cent. on mine, he would, only have 5 per cent. left. He used this. expression. of course. only in a way of ill,nstration. I expressed the opinion tbat tbe royalties he was paying were very high. He aSlted me how much I thought he was entitled to. and in reply I complimented him on the enterprise he had shown in putting up the plants. and told him that I thought he w:as <:ertainly entitled to at least one-half of all that might lle made out of the enterprise. He. in reply to my remarlt' stated that if he should have halt for himself. that that would only leave me 5 per cent. · · ."
There is here a specific stateDlent, but the evidence does not demo ansh'ate its falsity; indeeti, the weight of the proof would seem to indicate the expenses and losses were deducted from the gross royalties, of the residuum would be copsiderably less than 5 per cent. of such gross royalties. . For these reasons, the court is constrained to .;lecide that plaintiff has failed to sllow sufficient gr@n,dfor setting aside the written con· That being so, the bill must. be disrp.issed, for this is not a partnership, there is nog1'(jl1Jn4. for maiptaining the bill solely for an accounting of the royalties under the contract. Plaintiff :has hia action atlawfor his 5 per cent. or 7-1 per cent. thereof. The bill is dismissed.
r "',
BRADDOCK V.' LOUCHHEUI.
287
BRADDOCK: v. LOUCHHEIM et aI.
(Circuit Court,
D. Pennsylvania. No. 89.
May 23, 1898.)
PROOF OF FRAU,D' IN COURTS OF EQUITY-SUFFICIENCY OF EVIDENCE.
Where plaintiff's evidence, and the circumstances upon which he relles, produce only a vague misgiving as to the good faith of defendants In the transaction complained of, which misgiving the testimony on their behalf is sufficient to dispel, the evidence is insufficient to sustain a charge of fraud, even in a court of equity.
This was a bill filed by Isaac A. Braddock against Henry S., Sam· uel K., and Joseph Louchheim, to set aside transfers of property, and for injunction and an accounting. On final hearing. H. A. Drake, for complainant N. Dubois'Miller, for respondents. DALLAS, Circuit Judge. If this bill had been demurred to fol' multifariousness, it would, I think, have been difficult to sustain it. With the matters to which it mainly relates, one of the defendants is not in any manner connected, and with the single subject which does affect him at least one of the other defendants is not at all concerned. But as the case has now been heard upon pleadings and proofs, I will dispose of it on the merits, without reference to this defect in the bill, or to the objection for prolixity, to which, under l'ule 26, it appears to be !,!ubject. . There can be no decree against Joseph Louchheim. None could be made effective, except by injunction to stay proceedings in a state court, and such an injunction cannot be issued. Rev. St. U. S. § 720. The note held by JosepIlLouchheim, which it is asked that he shall be required to deliver up for cancellation, has been sued upon in a court of New Jersey; and in plaintiff's brief it is said, "If complain· ant is to pay this note [and this court has difficulty in restraining a suit in a state court], the amount of this note ought to be charged to [Henry 8.] Louchheim." This seems to admit that the prayer of the bill is, substantially, fol' an injunction which congress has inhibited. The fraudulent schemes, devices, and acts charged against Henry S. ,Louchheim and Samuel K. Loucbheim, by means whereof, as is al· leged, the latter acquired and holds the legal title to certain property, real and personal, in fraud of the plaintiff, have not been proved. In arriving at this conclusion, I have not been unmindful of the rule that in courts of equity express and positive proof of fraud is not required. Fraud may be deduced from collateral facts, and can seldom be shown by direct evidence. But it is not to be presumed upon circumstances of mere suspicion, leading to no certain result; and in this case the evidence of the plaintiff, and the circumstances upon which he relies, produce, at the utmost, but a vague misgiving as to the gopd faith of the defendants in the transactions complained of, and this misgiving the testimony on their behalf, when fairly considered, is amply sufficient to dispel. It could serve no useful purpose to discuss the proofs in detail. They are