KEYSTONE DRILLER CO. v. GENERAL EXCAVATOR CO. *, 290 U.S. 240

Summary

Petitioner owned five patents covering parts of a ditching machine. Prior to commencement of the present suits, petitioner brought an action for infringement of the first three patents against a company. The trial court held the patents to be valid and infringed. Petitioner then brought the present suits against respondents, alleging infringement of the same three patents. The previous decree was entered as evidence, and respondents tried to introduce evidence that petitioner did not come into court with clean hands, because there was evidence of possible prior use of the same subject matter, thereby making petitioner's patent invalid. The trial court found that petitioner was not suppressing evidence, and found in his favor. The appellate court reversed the decision and remanded the cause with instructions to dismiss petitioner's complaints. The court affirmed the lower court's decision, finding that petitioner's suppression of the prior use of the subject matter, and the use of the ...