Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-3_05-cv-00825/USCOURTS-cand-3_05-cv-00825-1/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 440
Nature of Suit: Other Civil Rights
Cause of Action: 28:1441 Petition for Removal- Civil Rights Act

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United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

ASCHILEW JEMBER, FEREDE NEGASH,

LEILTI MESFIN, AND LUNCH BOX

RESTAURANT

Plaintiffs,

 v.

DOWNEY SAVINGS AND LOAN

ASSOCIATION F.A., WORLD LENDING

GROUP, BANK OF THE WEST, SHUMEY

MAMO, HAYWARD R. COOK, JR.,

JENNIFER LARGET, MIGUEL MONERO,

EDWARD GUNTHER, AND BARBARA

BRANN,

Defendants. /

No. C 05-00825 WHA

ORDER DENYING EX PARTE

APPLICATION FOR

PRELIMINARY RELIEF

REGARDING PLAINTIFFS’

CREDIT HISTORY

Pro se plaintiffs have submitted an ex parte request for a court order to clear damaging

evidence from their credit history. This motion is DENIED.

To obtain preliminary injunctive relief, the moving party must demonstrate either (1) a

likelihood of success on the merits and the possibility of irreparable injury, or (2) the existence

of serious questions going to the merits and the balance of hardships tips sharply in its favor. 

Johnson v. Cal. State Bd. of Accountancy, 72 F.3d 1427, 1430 (9th Cir. 1995). These are not

two separate tests. Rather, “[t]his analysis creates a continuum: the less certain the district

court is of the likelihood of success on the merits, the more plaintiffs must convince the district

court that the public interest and balance of hardships tip in their favor.” Southwest Voter

Registration Educ. Project v. Shelley, 344 F.3d 914, 917–18 (9th Cir. 2003).

Case 3:05-cv-00825-WHA Document 31 Filed 08/04/05 Page 1 of 2
United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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Defendant Downey Savings and Loan Association, F.A. is alleged to have breached a

lending agreement and created a “false public record” that has adversely affected plaintiffs’

credit history and caused their monthly payments to increase from $1299.69 to $3400.00 (Br.

3). Plaintiffs now seek a court order to remove the allegedly damaging information from their

credit reports. Preliminary relief, however, cannot be granted merely on the basis of plaintiffs’

conclusory allegations. At this early stage of litigation, it is not particularly surprising that

plaintiffs have failed to put forth insufficient evidence that they are likely to succeed on the

merits. Accordingly, the requested relief is DENIED.

Nonetheless, the Court is somewhat troubled by defendant’s threat of adding “new

attorneys’ fees and costs to [plaintiffs’] loan balance” if the complaint is not dismissed (Jember

Decl. Exh. E). Defendants’ counsel shall be prepared to address this issue at the case

management conference currently scheduled for AUGUST 18, 2005 AT 11:00 A.M. Any motions

filed thereafter shall be on the normal 35-day calendar pursuant to the Civil Local Rules. The

parties are reminded for the second time that all future filings shall bear the initials WHA (not

EDL) immediately after the case number.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: August 4, 2005 WILLIAM ALSUP

UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

Case 3:05-cv-00825-WHA Document 31 Filed 08/04/05 Page 2 of 2