Robert Palmer Anderson
Judge Anderson no longer hears cases. This profile is preserved as a historical record of how they ruled.
How Judge Anderson decides
Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
What persuades
He treated the patents themselves, rather than the royalty agreement, as the property producing the disputed income.
“But the patents, not the contract, constitute ‘the tree’.”
He found cosmetic product changes insufficient where ordinary purchasers would still perceive deceptive similarity.
“reliance should not be placed upon minor changes which do not essentially alter the deceptive similarity of the appearance of the knives to the ordinary purchaser who does not have the plaintiff’s knife and the defendants’ model side by side for comparison.”
Cautions
He limited temporary labor relief so administrative delay would not turn a preliminary board conclusion into a permanent disposition.
“The Board cannot by indefinite delay and a refusal to exercise its jurisdiction compel the court to transmute the Board’s conclusion, based merely upon a preliminary investigation, into what is tantamount to a permanent disposition of the labor union jurisdictional question.”
He emphasized federal equitable restraint where state courts could preserve the asserted rights.
“Whatever rights appellee may have are to be pursued through the state courts.”
Signed rulings
A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.
“The defendant’s motion for summary judgment is granted”
“The temporary order for the stay of the Trial Examiner’s hearing is terminated and the plaintiff’s petition and complaint are dismissed.”
“It is ordered that the Referee’s order be affirmed and that the petition for review be dismissed.”
“The motion to dismiss is, therefore, granted and judgment may enter for the defendant.”
“The order of the Referee is affirmed and the petition is dismissed.”
“The plaintiff’s complaint is dismissed.”
“Judgment may enter for the defendant on its counterclaims to have an accounting for damages suffered and its costs, and for a permanent injunction against the plaintiff and all those in privity with it from further infringing Patent #2,224,403.”
“The motion for a new trial is denied.”
“Permission for Petroleum Conversion Corporation to bring an action against James A. Vaughan and Edward A. Rogers on the probate bond filed in connection with the sale of real estate from the estate of Elizabeth Boyd Vaughan, deceased, is denied.”
“The first count of the present action is not barred by the Statute of Limitations and the Motion for Summary Judgment is denied.”
“each and every objection to the Master’s reports, filed October 15, 1956, raised by the plaintiff or the defendant is overruled.”
A historical record
Judge Anderson no longer hears cases. This profile stays available as a record of how they ruled. If you're preparing for a matter, start from the court's current bench.