Court Opinion

ID: 5495400
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-01-10 02:51:31.020756+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:33:47.935072
License: Public Domain

O’Brien, J.
From the affidavits submitted on this motion to punish the defendant for contempt it seems reasonably clear that there has been a violation of the injunction, by the sale in Troy, and the commission of the acts charged as a violation in the shipment to Boston, and in the affixing of the trade-mark to goods at Lehigh Gap. The injunction was granted to preserve intact the subject-matter of the action, which is the right to use the trademark and designation, until the final determination of the rights of the parties by a trial. It has been strongly urged that, because both the parties to this action are Pennsylvania corporations, that this court has no power to restrain the defendants from carrying on their business in Pennsylvania in selling Prince’s metallic paint with the trade-mark in question affixed thereto outside of this state. There is no doubt, however, that this court obtained jurisdiction of the action now pending in this court, and in w'hich the injunction was issued; and while, as a rule, the power of an equity court is limited to the territorial jurisdiction of the court, disobedience to an injunction, though committed without the state, is nevertheless punishable in this action. The defendant seeks to excuse the acts complained of by disclaiming any intention of willfully violating the injunction order. The case is now on the calendar, and set down for trial for this week. It seems to me, under the circumstances, that in fixing the punishment for the contempt, which I regard as established, that a reference to determine the amount of plaintiff’s damages should, if possible, be avoided, for the reason that, if judgment should be in favor of the plaintiff, a reference to ascertain the damages would be necessary, and such damage which plaintiff may have suffered by a violation of the injunction could be then ascertained. The defendant, however, should not be allowed, after disregarding the injunction, to escape unpunished. Accordingly the defendant should paya fine of $J250 within 20 days, and, in default thereof, that his answer in this case he stricken out. Ordered accordingly.