WHEELOCK V. NOONAN [CB 47] D obtains a license from P to place rocks on his lot. Ordinarily, courts won’t weild their power to redress a trespass, but here, the trespass was a continuing one and a multiplicity of suites at law was involved in the legal remedy.
IRREPARABLE HARM [Gilbert 34]
COURTS DIFFER ON WHETHER THIS IS A SEPARATE ELEMENT
THREAT OF HARM MUST BE REAL -- ENCOMPASSES THE FUTURE HARM REQUIREMENT. If tort is complete, there is no threat of continuing harm and this element is not met.
CAN BE USED TO CREATE A NEW SUBSTANTIVE RIGHT
REMEDIAL V. SUBSTANTIVE EQUITY
ILLUSTRATIVE CASES
COMPUTE-A-CALL, INC. V. TOLLESON
K MART V. ORIENTAL PLAZA [CB 51]. OPI breached lease agreement not to build more than 10,000 SF of retail space in front of K-Mart. Harm was not reparable by mere damages because of injury to K-mart’s presentation of its store to the public.
MUEHLMAN V. KEILMAN [CB 53] D running diesel engines outside of P’s bedroom window, causing a nuisance. Irreparable injury can mean that for which no pecuniary standard exists for measurement of damages.
Mootness: D’s propensity is negated where D previously engaged in the conduct, but has ceased the conduct and says he won’t do it anymore.
BALANCING THE EQUITIES [EE 151-53]
EQUITABLE RELIEF IS DISCRETIONARY
BALANCE MUST FAVOR THE PLAINTIFF
ILLUSTRATIVE CASES
TRIPLETT V. BEUCKMAN [CB 57] . D’s replaced bridge to an island with a causeway. P had an easement to use the bridge and the lake around the island and sued to remove the causeway and put the bridge back. P’s are entitled to the bridge, but maybe not a 60 foot one. Remanded to trial court to balance equities and determine what D must do.
GALELLA V. ONASSIS [CB 62]. Photographer jumping out of bushes, etc. to get photos of Onassis and her children, committing several torts. Court balances P’s right to lawful employment and movement with Secret Service’s need to protect D. Orders prohibiting harassment cannot be vague.
THE HARASSING SUITOR
THE PUBLIC INTEREST
WILL THE INJUNCTION SERVE THE PUBLIC INTEREST?
DOES THE ORDER COMPROMISE TRIBUNAL INTEGRITY?
CASES
Graham v. Cirocco [CB 72]. Non-competition agreement between two colorectal surgeons is modified to eliminate enforcement of a 25-mile restriction to practice within an area because it would result in shortage of specialists needed
U.S. V. RAINBOW FAMILY [CB 75, Note 2]. Public interest includes protecting a national forest from a group’s annual gathering that constitutes a public nuisance (disturbances, nudity, unsanitary health conditions, drugs, traffic congestion)
BOOMER V. ATLANTIC CEMENT [CB 77]. Nuisance found from a plant’s dirt, smoke and vibrations, but economic consequences to D are much greater and over 300 people are employed there. N.Y. rule: such a nuisance will be enjoined although marked disparity be shown in economic consequences between the effect of the injunction and the effect of the nuisance. Court weighs both sides, no good remedy, chooses to grant vacate injunction upon D’s payment of P’s permanent damages.
THE ENCROACHMENT [CB 83]
United States v. Oakland Cannabis Buyer’s Cooperative [CB 85]. Whether there is a medical necessity exception to prohibitions that allow California’s Compassionate Use Act of 1996 to supercede federal law. Court sitting in equity cannot ignore the judgment of Congress. In weighing the advantages and disadvantages of an injunction, it may only consider the extraordinary remedy, not balancing advantages of enforcement of a statute. (Right vs. remedy).
ISSUES IN INJUNCTIONS [EE 154-55]
PLAINTIFF WILL BE HARMED
SCOPE MUST BE PROPER
Can’t prohibit constitutional right, such as free speech
Concern over restraining labor/involuntary servitude
Burden on the court
Caveat: if an injunction is authorized by statute, many courts do not require that traditional equity requirements be met. The injured party need only show violation of the statutory requirements. [Gilbert 35]