Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-casd-3_11-cv-00457/USCOURTS-casd-3_11-cv-00457-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 370
Nature of Suit: Other Fraud
Cause of Action: 28:1331(a) Fed. Question: Real Property

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

ROBERT H. ZAKAR and VALERIE

ZAKAR,

Plaintiff,

CASE NO. 11CV457 JLS (WVG)

ORDER (1) DENYING

PLAINTIFFS’ APPLICATION FOR

A TEMPORARY RESTRAINING

ORDER AND (2) SETTING

HEARING FOR PRELIMINARY

INJUNCTION

(Doc. No. 2.) 

vs.

CHL MORTGAGE PASS THROUGH

TRUST, et al.,

Defendant.

On March 4, 2011, Plaintiffs filed a complaint against Defendants alleging eleven causes of

action related to loan transactions and foreclosure. (See Doc. No. 1.) Three days later, Plaintiff

filed the instant application for temporary restraining order and order to show cause regarding

preliminary injunction. (Doc. No. 2.) Plaintiff has yet to serve process on Defendants.

1. Temporary Restraining Order

Temporary restraining orders are governed by the same standard applicable to preliminary

injunctions. See New Motor Vehicle Bd. of Cal. v. Orrin W. Fox Co., 434 U.S. 1345, 1347 n.2

(1977). “A plaintiff seeking a preliminary injunction must establish that he is likely to succeed on

the merits, that he is likely to suffer irreparable harm in the absence of preliminary relief, that the

balance of equities tips in his favor, and that an injunction is in the public interest.” Winter v.

Natural Res. Def. Council, Inc. (NRDC), — U.S. —, 129 S. Ct. 365, 374 (2008) (citing Munaf v.

Geren, 553 U.S. 674, 128 S. Ct. 2207, 2218–19 (2008)); see also Am. Trucking Ass’ns, Inc. v. City

of L.A., 559 F.3d 1046, 1052 (9th Cir. 2009). This is an “extraordinary remedy that may only be

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awarded upon a clear showing that the plaintiff is entitled to such relief.” NRDC, 129 S.Ct. at 376. 

This “clear showing” requires Plaintiff to show more than a mere “possibility” of irreparable harm,

but instead he must “demonstrate that irreparable injury is likely in the absence of an injunction.” 

Id. at 375 (emphasis in original); Am. Trucking Ass’ns, 559 F.3d at 1052.

When a plaintiff has not provided notice of her application to the defendant, Federal Rule

of Civil Procedure 65(b)(1) imposes specific requirements prior to the issuance of a temporary

restraining order.

The court may issue a temporary restraining order without written or oral notice to

the adverse party or its attorney only if: (A) specific facts in an affidavit or a

verified complaint clearly show that immediate and irreparable injury, loss, or

damage will result to the movant before the adverse party can be heard in

opposition; and (B) the movant’s attorney certifies in writing any efforts made to

give notice and the reasons why it should not be required.

Fed. R. Civ. P. 65(b)(1). “The stringent restrictions imposed . . . by Rule 65[] on the availability of

ex parte temporary restraining orders reflect the fact that our entire jurisprudence runs counter to

the notion of court action taken before reasonable notice and an opportunity to be heard has been

granted both sides of a dispute.” Granny Goose Foods, Inc. v. Bhd. of Teamsters, 415 U.S. 423,

438–39 (1974) (footnote omitted).

Accordingly, “courts have recognized very few circumstances justifying the issuance of an

ex parte TRO.” Reno Air Racing Ass’n v. McCord, 452 F.3d 1126, 1131 (9th Cir. 2006). “For

example, an ex parte TRO may be appropriate ‘where notice to the adverse party is impossible

either because the identity of the adverse party is unknown or because a known party cannot be

located in time for a hearing.’” Id. (quoting Am. Can Co. v. Mansukhani, 742 F.2d 314, 322 (7th

Cir. 1984)). Alternatively, “[i]n cases where notice could have been given to the adverse party,

courts have recognized a very narrow band of cases in which ex parte orders are proper because

notice to the defendant would render fruitless the further prosecution of the action.’” Id. (quoting

Am. Can Co., 742 F.3d at 322).

Although Plaintiffs do not frame their application for TRO as an ex parte one, the Court

treats it as such because there is no evidence of written or oral notice to the adverse party. There is

no evidence of service on Defendants and no declaration regarding oral notice. 

As an ex parte application, Plaintiffs fail to satisfy Rules 65(b)(1). Plaintiffs failed to set

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forth specific facts in an affidavit or a verified complaint clearly showing that immediate and

irreparable loss would result before the Defendants could be heard in opposition. See Fed. R. Civ.

P. 65(b)(1)(A). Plaintiffs’ counsel failed to certify in writing any efforts to give notice to

Defendants. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 65(b)(1)(B). Plaintiffs have also not demonstrated that notice is

impossible or would render further prosecution of the action fruitless, as is required for an ex parte

TRO. Reno Air Racing, 452 F.3d at 1131.

Because Plaintiffs have not satisfied Rule 65(b)(1), Plaintiffs’ application for a temporary

restraining order is DENIED.

2. Preliminary Injunction

Plaintiffs also requests a preliminary injunction. Under Rule 65(a)(1), “[t]he court may

issue a preliminary injunction only on notice to the adverse party.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 65(a)(1). 

Accordingly, to have their request for a preliminary injunction set for hearing, Plaintiffs must

serve Defendants with all documents they have filed in this matter, including the complaint, the

application, counsel’s declaration, and this Order by March 10, 2011. Plaintiff must electronically

file proof of service by March 11, 2011.

If Plaintiffs timely serve and file all documents, the request for a preliminary injunction

will be set for hearing on Friday, April 1, 2011 at 3:00 p.m. An opposition to the preliminary

injunction SHALL be filed by March 18, 2011. A reply, if Plaintiff wishes to file one, SHALL be

filed by March 23, 2011. If all documents are not served as directed, the matter will not be heard

on April 1, 2011. Rather, Plaintiff must obtain the next available hearing date from chambers

under Local Civil Rule 7.1(b).

CONCLUSION

For the reasons stated, Plaintiffs’ ex parte application for a temporary restraining order is

DENIED.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

DATED: March 8, 2011

Honorable Janis L. Sammartino

United States District Judge

Case 3:11-cv-00457-AJB-WVG Document 6 Filed 03/08/11 Page 3 of 3