Civil Procedure Commons^™

Contempt-Punishment Of One Not A Party To An Injunction

Michigan Law Review

The plaintiff sued A and B for infringement of patent rights. The suit was dismissed as to A and B testified that the business was solely his. A decree was then entered against B, "his agents, employees, associates and confederates * * *," which enjoined them from "infringing, or aiding or abetting, or in any way contributing to the infringement * * *" of the patents. When the decree was entered, A was an employee of B, but subsequently A left B's employ, began his own business, and infringed the patent. The plaintiff began contempt proceedings against A in the …