D. & W. Fuse Co. v. Trumbull Electric Mfg. Co.

WARD, Circuit Judge. This is an application for a decree absolute upon a bill which has been taken pro confesso. Judge Wallace held, in Bennett v. Hoefner, 17 Blatchf. 341, Fed. Cas. No. 1,320, that, notwithstanding the provision of Supreme Court equity rule 18 that after the bill is taken pro confesso the case may be proceeded in ex parte, a defendant who had appeared was entitled to notice of entry of decree absolute. Obviously this is to give him an opportunity to ask for any relief he may think himself entitled to. The bill in this case was filed June 5, 1908, against the Trumbull Company, which entered its appearance July 6, 1908, and, not having filed a plea, demurrer, or answer by the next rule day, was taken pro confesso August 4, 1908. The Trumbull Company was only the seller of the articles complained of in the bill as infringements, and September 16, 1908, a stipulation was entered into between the complainant and the Sachs Company, the manufacturer, permitting the Sachs Company to intervene and defend, and providing that proceedings against the Trumbull Company should be stayed and await the result of the defense of the Sachs Company. The Trumbull Company was no party to this agreement. November 9, 1910, after proofs had been taken on behalf of the complainant and of the Sachs Company, the latter, having gone into the hands of a receiver, consented to a final decree in favor of the complainant. It is quite clear that the Trumbull Company was relying on the Sachs Company to defend the suit, and it should not be deprived of any defense it has by the failure of the Sachs Company to do so. Upon condition that it stipulate that testimony taken on behalf of the complainant as against the Sachs Company may be used against it, and upon payment of $50 to the complainant, the Trumbull Company may, within 20 days after service of a copy of order hereunder, plead, demur, or answer to the bill; otherwise, a decree absolute will be entered against it.