Fred Dickinson Letts
Judge Letts no longer hears cases. This profile is preserved as a historical record of how they ruled.
How Judge Letts decides
Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
What persuades
A postal fraud order could not stand when the administrative hearing record contained no evidence supporting the agency recommendation.
“The record of the hearing before the Solicitor of the Post Office Department contains no evidence within the meaning of Ihe fraud order statutes cited which sustains the recommendation of the Solicitor”
In a patent action, comparative evidence showing unexpected beneficial properties overcame closely related prior art.
“The evidence produced at the trial proves that the compounds claimed by plaintiffs possess some unobvious and unexpected beneficial properties not possessed by the homologous compound disclosed in the prior art defense patents.”
He upheld an agency eligibility determination where the record showed careful consideration and a reasonable exercise of discretion.
“The record shows such discretion was exercised with much care. It cannot be said that there was an abuse of discretion or that the denial of plaintiff's eligibility and the affirmance of Veterans’ eligibility was in any wise arbitrary or capricious.”
Cautions
He enjoined an agency demand that exceeded the investigative power Congress had granted.
“Such assumption of power is not authorized in the Act and was not intended by the Congress.”
A trademark applicant needed evidence that the exact words sought for registration functioned as a mark, rather than merely as a generic product name.
“The evidence fails to show any use of the words ‘Boiler Meter’ as a trademark.”
A claimant bore the burden of proving actual dependency rather than relying on family status alone.
“The burden of proof rests upon the plaintiff to establish such relationship.”
Signed rulings
A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.
“The prayer of plaintiff’s bill for a permanent injunction is therefore granted.”
“The application for temporary relief must be denied.”
“Accordingly the defendant’s motion for a summary judgment will be sustained, and that of the plaintiffs overruled.”
“That the plaintiff is entitled according to law to receive a patent for the invention specified in claim 31 contained in the application of John A. Brown and John Edmund Clarke, Ser. No. 171,990”
“That the plaintiff is entitled according to law to receive a patent for the invention specified in claims 1 to 6 inclusive, 8 to 10 inclusive and 12 to 16 inclusive”
“Plaintiff is not entitled to registration of the words ‘Vita-Seltzer’ as a trademark for an effervescent preparation in tablet or powder form for upset stomach, headaches and similar ailments.”
“The motion of plaintiff for summary judgment is overruled and that of intervener is sustained.”
“Counsel for plaintiffs will present an order sustaining the motion for summary judgment.”
“It follows that the motion of plaintiff for a temporary injunction must be overruled and the motion of defendants to dismiss the complaint should be sustained.”
“That the Plaintiff should be granted injunctive relief.”
“The Commissioner of Patents will be authorized to register plaintiffs trade-mark in due form of law.”
“Defendant’s motion to dismiss will be sustained.”
A historical record
Judge Letts 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.