Case ID: f_56/html/0366-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "CALDWELL, Circuit Judge,", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

JAMES T. HAIR CO. v. HUCKINS.
    (Circuit Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit.
    May 15, 1893.)
    No. 209.
    1. Injunction — Breach op Contract — Adequate Remedy at Law.
    Injunction will not lio to restrain the breach of a contract whereby defendant agreed that for the term of five years he would use plaintiff’s hotel registers in his business, and no others, for plaintiff has an adequate remedy at law; and a bill filed praying such an injunction is de-murrable upon this groi'md.
    2. Same — Review.
    A decree of the lower court sustaining a demurrer to such bill, on the ground that the contract sued on is in restraint of trade, will be affirmed on appeal on the ground of adequate remedy at law, (this having been one ground of demurrer,) and the question of the validity of the contract will not be considered.
    Appeal from the Circuit Court of the United States for the Eastern District of Arkansas.
    In Equity. This was a suit by the James T. Hair Company against Joseph Huckins to restrain the alleged violation of a contract. The court below sustained a demurrer to the bill, and complainant appeals.
    Affirmed.
    Statement by CALDWELL, Circuit Judge:
    The appellant, the Jamos T. Hair Company, and the appellee, Joseph Huck-ins, entered into a contract, of which the following is a copy:
    “Texarkana, May 11th, 1S88.
    “To whom it may concern: In consideration of the reduced rates (as given elsewhere on this leaf) at which our registers are to be supplied to us, and in further consideration of our hotels being advertised as other hotels are in the ‘American I iotel Muido,’ free of further charge to us, we have severally contracted with James T. Hair Company to use their supplies of advertising hotel register books upon our respective hotel counters. These books are to be of good material, and well made, and we agree to use them, and no other registers, exclusively, as register books upon our public hotel counters from the time we receive them until they are filled with guests’ names (in their own autographs, when possible) in the usual course of business. We also agree that wo will refer our guests seeking purchases or professional services to the cards of those firms that shall be represented on tlie leaves of our register books from time to time, as opportunity is afforded us. We further agree to give said company notice at their Chicago office at least forty days prior to our needing- additional registers under this agreement from time to time. This contract to be in force, from and after dale, or from the expiration of any present contract, if any now in existence, and is made for the term of five years, or while we, or either of ns, are in the hotel business, if less than that time. Joseph Huckins.”
    Huckins ordered and paid for hotel registers under the contract from the date thereof up. to June, 1889, when he ceased to order registers from the appellant, and procured Them elsewhere. Thereupon the appellant filed this bill in equity, setting out the foregoing facts, and alleging that, if the ap-pellee continued to refuse to use its registers for the time the contract had to run, it would be damaged $5,000.
    The bill prayed “that the defendant, Joseph Huckins', his agents and servants, and each and every one of them, be restrained and enjoined pending the final hearing of this cause from further violation of his contract aforesaid, and particularly from using or causing to be used in his said hotel any register supplies other than those of your orator; that upon the final hearing of tliis causo said injunction bo continued until the expiration of'said contract by its terras; that the defendant be decreed to pay to your orator all damages occasioned your orator by his failure to keep and perform iiis agreements;" and for general relief. A demurrer to the bill was sustained, and the Xilaintilf appealed.
    William Thompson., for appellant.
    L. A. Byrne, for appellee.
    Before CALDWELL and SAXBOKN, Circuit Judges, and THAYER, District Judge.
   CALDWELL, Circuit Judge,

after stating the facts as above, delivered the opinion of the court. According to the record, the court below rested its judgment sustaining the demurrer to The bill upon the ground “that the contract sued on is in restraint of trade, against public policy, and void,” and the briefs of counsel are directed chiellv to a discussion of that aspect of tin case; but we do not And it necessary to consider the question whether the contract was one in restraint of trade, and void for that reason. One of the grounds of demurrer to the bill is that the plaintiff has a plain, speedy, and adequate remedy at law. That this ground of demurrer was well taken is so plaiu and obvious as not to require or justify discussion or citation of authorities. Where the court renders the proper judgment it is immaterial whether the reason given for it is right or wrong. The decree of the court below is affirmed.