Covert v. Sargent

Wallace, J. The statute (Rev. St. U. S. § 4921") does not confer authority upon a court of equity to treble a recovery of profits decreed against the infringer of a patent, but distinctly discriminates between the profits which are recoverable in a court of equity and the damages which were formerly recoverable in actions at law only, and confines the pow'er of increasing the recovery to the latter. The point has been expressly decided.in this court. Campbell v. James, 5 Fed. Rep. 807. Until jurisdiction was conferred upon the circuit courts by statute to decree damages in suits in equity, (Act of July 8, 1870, § 55,) they could only decree profits in such suits. Elizabeth v. Pavement Co., 97 U. S. 138. When such jurisdiction was conferred, the power was circumscribed by explicit language to cases in which it could be exercised by courts of law in actions upon the case. Courts of law could award damages, but not profits. Packet Co. v. Sickles, 19 Wall. 611; Burdell v. Denig, 92 U. S. 716. As the complainant has not recovered damages, he must be content with such indemnity for the violation of his rights as he will receive by a recovery of the profits which the master has found were realized by the defendant.