Case Name: PENNSYLVANIA GLOBE GASLIGHT CO. v. AMERICAN LIGHTING CO., Limited
Court: United States Circuit Court for the District of Delaware
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 1902-07-21
Citations: 117 F. 324
Docket Number: No. 233
Parties: PENNSYLVANIA GLOBE GASLIGHT CO. v. AMERICAN LIGHTING CO., Limited.
Judges: 
Reporter: Federal Reporter
Volume: 117
Pages: 324–324

Head Matter:
PENNSYLVANIA GLOBE GASLIGHT CO. v. AMERICAN LIGHTING CO., Limited.
(Circuit Court, D. Delaware.
July 21, 1902.)
No. 233.
1. Patents—Suit for Infringement—Preliminary Injunction.
A preliminary injunction against infringement of a patent comparatively recent, and which has not been adjudicated, will not be granted where the proofs are conflicting, and it appears that a full hearing is necessary to determine the questions in issue.
In Equity. Suit for infringement of letters patent No. 31,745, granted October 31, 1899, to Arthur E. Shaw and Edward S. Sanderson for a design for a street lamp. On motion for a preliminary injunction.
A. C. Gray and John R. Bennett, for complainant.
W. Saulsbury, Hervey S. Knight, and Wm. B. Greeley, for defendant.

Opinion:
BRADFORD, District Judge.
The bill in this case charges infringement of letters patent of the United States No. 31,745, dated October 31, 1899, granted to Arthur E. Shaw and Edward S. Sanderson, assignors to the complainant, for a design for a street lamp, and prays for an injunction and damages. The case is now before the court on a motion for a preliminary injunction. The affidavits on each side are numerous, and it is admitted that there has been no adjudication of the validity of the patent. On careful consideration of all the affidavits and exhibits produced, and in view of the course and practice of the courts in this and other circuits on applications for preliminary injunctions in patent causes, I am satisfied that it would be premature and improper at this stage of the case to express any opinion upon its merits, and that the same should be determined only after plenary proofs shall have been adduced. The application for a preliminary injunction must, therefore, be denied, the costs to abide the event of the cause.