 spelling Nicolson) had patented a process for Nicolson pavement in August 8, 1854, a system of pavement using wooden blocks.Although Nicholson had died before the commencement of the lawsuit, George T. Bigelow, representative of the American Nicholson Pavement Company brought the lawsuit on his behalf, alleging that the City of Elizabeth, New Jersey, George W. Tubbs, and the New Jersey Wood-Paving Co. had infringed on his patent.Nicholson was testing his new process publicly at the time the patent was filed.