L. J. Barnett & Co. v. D. Weeks & Co.
L. J. Barnett & Co. v. D. Weeks & Co.
Opinion of the Court
The petition alleges that the plaintiff is a copartnership engaged in “dispensing various drugs and pharmaceutical remedies to the retail druggists throughout
Exhibit A.
WANNING!!
To Netail Druggists:
We have built up a large trade throughout the entire United States on Cold Tablets put up in a package containing a distinctive label.
We have acquired the exclusive right to the use of this ■label on Cold Tablets.
Anyone using a similar label is guilty of unfair trade and is liable to suit for injunction and damages. This ap- > plies to the retail druggists as well as to the jobber.
We have already brought suit against L. J. Barnett & Co., of Des Moines, Iowa, who have been selling Cold Tablets under similar labels to various ,druggists throughout the country. In order to protect our business, we may
If you have any Gold Tablets on hand with labels similar to our, return them to the manufacturer and demand the return of your money. Many druggists have innocently purchased and handled these infringing goods without knowledge of our rights. 1
The foregoing warning is intended as legal notice to retail druggists who receive same.
We have employed attorneys who are trademark specialists to protect our label against druggists who persist in infringement of it after receiving proper warning.
•Full particulars will be submitted on request.
D. O. Leo & Co.,
Des Moines, Iowa.
It is averred that such circular is untrue, and that it is “circulated for the express purpose of ruining the business of the plaintiff.” It is also averred that the defendant knows that it is entitled to no relief whatsoever in its original case filed against Barnett, and that the issuance of the said circulars is wilful and fraudulent and maliciously indulged in by the defendant. It is also averred that the business of the plaintiff “is being rapidly ruined by the said'false and libelous circular’s.” Injunction is prayed for, both temporary and permanent, and damages in the sum of $50,000. To this petition defendant filed a general demurrer. The trial court having overruled the same, the defendant elected to stand on the ruling, and the same is now submitted to our consideration.
The controversy presented for our consideration centers upon the question whether the petition sufficiently charges bad faith on the part of the defendant in the issuance of said circular. We are constrained to hold that the petition is sufficient in this respect, though it has nothing to spare.
Appellant’s argument assumes some facts which are not alleged in the petitions, and which do not appear
The order of the trial court is affirmed.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.