In re Welch Mfg. Co. , 119 C.C.A. 615 ( 1913 )

PUTNAM, Circuit Judge.

This is a petition for a writ of mandamus to the judge of the District Court for the District of Massachusetts, which requests that he be required to direct answers to be taken to certain questions put on cross-examination of a witness in a suit in equity pending in that court, charging an infringement by the petitioner of certain letters patent of the United States. The witness declined to answer the interrogatories involved. It is plain that the questions involved were immaterial and inconsequential, and that, on ultimate appeal to this court from a decision of the District Court on the merits of the bill, they would not be considered, and would have no effect. Nevertheless the plaintiff relies on Blease v. Garlington, 92 U. S. 1, 23 L. Ed. 521, as obligatory on the District Court in the premises; so that, therefore, on this proceeding, he claims that all we have to do is to require that court to enforce the rule there laid down by the Supreme Court.

It is not necessary that we should detail the circumstances with -reference to the fact that the questions arose originally before an examiner, and were then finally disposed of by the learned judge of the District Court on an application to him, nor whether the question whether Blease v. .Garlington applied in any event under the circumstances, and more especially the question whether Blease v. Garlington deprived the District Court of its control over the cross-examination, which apparently that court held to be protracted to an unreasonable extent, because the fact that the questions involved would ultimately be held immaterial and inconsequential by this court, if the case came to final determination on the merits, relieves us from any duty of proceeding to a decree on a petition for writ of mandamus.

It is apparent that the questions which the petitioner submitted, and which were disallowed by the District Court, are ineffectual. No such testimony as called for by these questions would be admissible on the hearing on the merits. Under these circumstances, the petition must be denied for two reasons:

[ 1 ] The first one is of a general character, because any proceeding by mandamus, although it has become now a civil suit, is of a prerogative nature, and is strictly an extraordinary remedy granted only in extraordinary cases, and dependent also on the exercise of a wise judicial discretion. High on Extraordinary Legal Remedies (3d Ed., 1896) § 6. A second and more particular reason is that the writ will never be granted where, if issued, it would prove unavailing, or “when it would be ineffectual to aid the party aggrieved.” Id. § 14. In this case it would be unavailing, because the same court, the Court of Appeals, which is now asked to- issue this writ, would, if the writ issued, and the evidence was offered, strike out the evidence on appeal.

[2] If the action of this court was to be revised as of course by some other court of equal or superior jurisdiction, it is possible to suppose, that the result might be otherwise; but, in the theory of the law, the ultimate tribunal is the same in each case, namely, the Court of Appeals, and it would be absurd that this court should proceed here to a judgment which hereafter it- would be sure to determine was ineffectual for any practical purpose. The mere fact that there is a possibility that, on a petition for a writ of certiorari, the case might go to the Supreme Court, is not relevant.

Since this opinion was drawn, the petitioner has called our attention to a decision of the Circuit Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. In re Beckwith, 201 Fed. 518, in which the opinion was passed down on November 15, 1912. This was on an application for leave to file a petition for an alternative mandamus with reference to proceedings before a master. We have no issue with that opinion whatever, because it states expressly that a question was raised whether the petitioner was entitled to the benefit of equity rule 79; and the opinion states hypothetically the result if that rule is applicable, and also the result if it is not applicable. By that opinion the question sought.to be raised by the application, is shown to be a suitable question for mature consideration, while here we are able to determine in advance that no question whatever is open. It is plain that the case thus brought to our attention in no way bears on our conclusion here, and that it requires no further consideration.

The petition is dismissed, with costs for the respondent.