Lowe

This action was one for equitable relief, namely, a decree declaring the plaintiff to be the owner of certain shares of stock in defendant American Metal Products Corporation, and enjoining defendants Copeland and the Cig-a-Lite Corporation from transferring certain patent rights. In the alternative damages were prayed, and plaintiff asked that a receiver of the business and property of defendant American Metal Products Corporation be appointed.

Defendant Copeland was the inventor of various cigar and cigarette-lighting devices, and the holder of certain patents and applications for patents for such devices. He organized defendant Cig-a-Lite Corporation, in which he owned a majority of the stock. On or about March 25, 1927, plaintiff entered into a contract with Copeland and the corporation last named, by which the latter two agreed to transfer the patent rights to said devices to a corporation to be organized under the laws of Nevada, in which Copeland should own fifty-one per cent of the stock, and act as its president at a salary of $500 per month. In consideration of the issuance to him of forty-four per cent of the stock of the Nevada corporation plaintiff agreed to advance…