Opinion

United States v. Chas. J. Webb Sons Co.

  • 16 Ct. Cust. 156
  • 1928 CCPA LEXIS 57
  • 1928 WL 27985
Court
Court of Customs and Patent Appeals
Filed
May 21, 1928
Status
Published
Author
Barber
On the bench
Barber, Bland, Graham, Hatfield, Smith
Cited by
5 cases
Authority
More cited than 15.9%

The opinion

*161 CONCURRING OPINION

Barber, Judge:

I concur in tho.conclusion in this case. Nothing is disclosed, however, that to me suggests that the doctrine of laches is available as a defense to the importer’s claim.

In Kellogg v. Moore, 271 Missouri 189, 196 S. W. 15 , one of the many cases cited in Corpus Juris 21, page 210, referred to in the main opinion, among other things it is said that the reason for the defense of laches

is in general to exact of the complainant fair dealings with his adversary, and the rule was adopted largely because after great lapse of time from death of parties, loss of papers, death of witnesses, change of title, intervention of equities, or other causes, there is danger of doing injustice, and there can be no longer a safe determination of the controversy.

In Wilder’s Executrix v. Wilder, 82 Vt. 123 , 72 Atlantic 203, also cited in Corpus Juris, it is said:

Laches also involves prejudice, actual or implied, resulting from the delay. It does not arise from delay alone, but from delay that works a disadvantage to another.

To which statement numerous cases are cited.

In State v. Brooks-Scanlon Lumber Co., cited in the main opinion, it is said:

The pith and substance of the doctrine of laches is unreasonable delay in enforcing a known right.

I am unable to see, if the above principles be applied, how the Government could claim that the importer was guilty of laches in this case.

A great number of cases might be cited in the discussion of this question. My purpose, however, is to very briefly call attention to the doubt I have as to the availability of the defense of laches under the facts in this case.

This is a copy of a public record, reproduced as it was published. It is not legal advice, and it may not be the version a court would rely on. Check the official source before you cite it.

A word about cookies

We need a few to keep you signed in and the library working. The rest help us see which pages people use and where they get stuck. They stay off unless you say yes.