Source: https://www.legalcrystal.com/case/85094/butterworth-vs-hill
Timestamp: 2017-12-15 12:24:07
Document Index: 330612357

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 739', '§ 4915', '§ 739', '§ 4915', '§ 44', '§ 736']

Butterworth Vs Hill - Citation 85094 - Court Judgment | LegalCrystal
Butterworth Vs. Hill - Court Judgment
LegalCrystal Citation legalcrystal.com/85094
Case Number 114 U.S. 128
.....the provision in § 739 that no suit shall be brought in a circuit or district court of the united states against an inhabitant of the united states, by original process, in any other district than that of which he is an inhabitant page 114 u. s. 129 or in which he may be found at the time of serving the writ applies to suits in equity under § 4915 rev.stat. to procure the issue of letters patent for an invention after rejection of the application therefor. the official residence of the commissioner of patents is at washington, in the district of columbia. a written acceptance by the commissioner of patents at washington of service of a subpoena issued by the circuit court of the united states for the district of vermont on a bill in equity filed in that.....
Butterworth v. Hill - 114 U.S. 128 (1885)
U.S. Supreme Court Butterworth v. Hill, 114 U.S. 128 (1885)
The provision in § 739 that no suit shall be brought in a circuit or district court of the United States against an inhabitant of the United States, by original process, in any other district than that of which he is an inhabitant
"SEC. 4915. Whenever a patent, on application, is refused either by the Commissioner of Patents or by the Supreme Court of the District of Columbia upon appeal from the Commissioner, the applicant may have remedy by bill in equity, and the court having cognizance thereof, on notice to adverse parties and other due proceedings had, may adjudge that such
Page 114 U. S. 130
applicant is entitled, according to law, to receive a patent for his invention as specified in his claim, or for any part thereof, as the facts in the case may appear. And such adjudication, if it be in favor of the right of the applicant, shall authorize the Commissioner to issue such patent on the applicant filing in the Patent Office a copy of the adjudication, and otherwise complying with the requirements of law. In all cases where there is no opposing party, a copy of the bill shall be served on the Commissioner, and all the expenses of the proceeding shall be paid by the applicant, whether the final decision is in his favor or not."
" Comm'r of Patents "
" UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE"
"WASHINGTON, D.C. October 18, 1883"
"SIR: I am in receipt of your letter of the 16th instant enclosing copy of a bill of complaint entitled Hill & Prentice et al. v. The Commissioner of Patents of the United States of America, in the United States Circuit Court for the District of Vermont, praying that said court direct the Commissioner of Patents to issue a patent to the assignees of Hill & Prentice
Page 114 U. S. 131
for the invention disclosed and claimed in their application filed in this office March 30, 1880, for an improvement in milk coolers; also a subpoena to appear and answer to said bill on the 5th proximo and a certified copy of said subpoena. I herewith return the subpoena, service accepted, and have to inform you that I shall not appear in defense in said bill."
"E. M. MARBLE, Commissioner "
"Mr. W. E. Simonds, Hartford, Conn. "
Page 114 U. S. 132
no doubt that this statute applies to suits brought under § 4915. The applicant is to have his remedy under that section by bill in equity, and by the adjudication "of the court having cognizance thereof, on notice to adverse parties, and other due proceedings had." A bill in equity implies a suit in equity, with process and parties. The prayer for process is one of the component parts of the structure of a bill, and its purpose is to compel the defendant to appear and abide the determination of the court on the subject matter of the proceeding. Story, Eq.Pl. § 44.
The subpoena in this case was delivered to him in the District of Columbia, and his acceptance of service was made there. That is apparent from the face of his endorsement and the letter which was written afterwards, and filed in the cause undoubtedly as proof of a delivery of a copy of the bill which the law required should be served on him. Both the endorsement and the letter purport to have been written at Washington, and the letter in the Patent Office. Unless, therefore, the acceptance of service as endorsed on the writ is to be treated as a voluntary appearance by the Commissioner in the court in Vermont, without objection to the jurisdiction, the case stands as it would if the process had been actually served on him in the District of Columbia by some competent officer. The circuit court was of opinion that by his acceptance of service, the Commissioner waived all objection to the jurisdiction and consented to be sued away from the seat of government and from his residence. In this we think there was error. The fair meaning of the endorsement on the writ is that the Commissioner admits the service with the same effect it would have if
Page 114 U. S. 133
made by an officer in the District of Columbia. No appearance is thereby entered in the cause. Service of the subpoena in the District is acknowledged, but nothing more. In the letter which followed the endorsement of service, both counsel and the court were informed that the Commissioner declined to appear. The parties proceeded therefore at their own risk and without the consent of the defendant to the jurisdiction of the court. Such being the case, we are of opinion that the court was without jurisdiction, and had no authority to enter the decree which has been appealed from. The act of Congress exempts a defendant from suit in any district of which he is not an inhabitant or in which he is not found at the time of the service of the writ. It is an exemption which he may waive, but unless waived, he need not answer, and will not be bound by anything which may be done against him in his absence. What is here said, of course, does not apply to cases where the suit is brought and service is made under §§ 736, 737, and 738 of the Revised Statutes.