Document ID: ./input/supremecourt_opinions/opinions/20pdf/19-508_l6gn.pdf
Page Number: 10.0

Cite as:  593 U. S. ____ (2021) 

7 

Opinion of the Court 

Medical Soc., 343 U. S. 326, 333 (1952) (injunction typically 
offers  prospective  relief  against  ongoing  or  future  harm),
with, e.g., 1 D. Dobbs, Law of Remedies §4.1(1) (2d ed. 1993) 
(restitution  typically  offers  retrospective  relief  to  redress 
past harm).  We have, however, sometimes interpreted sim-
ilar language as authorizing judges to order equitable mon-
etary  relief.   See  Porter  v.  Warner  Holding  Co.,  328  U. S. 
395  (1946);  Mitchell  v.  Robert  DeMario  Jewelry,  Inc.,  361 
U. S. 288 (1960).

But if this language alone is not enough, there is more. 
The language and structure of §13(b), taken as a whole, in-
dicate  that  the  words  “permanent  injunction”  have  a  lim-
ited purpose—a purpose that does not extend to the grant
of monetary relief.  Those words are buried in a lengthy pro-
vision  that  focuses  upon  purely  injunctive,  not  monetary,
relief.  It says (in relevant part): 

“Whenever the Commission has reason to believe— 

“(1)  that  any  person,  partnership,  or  corporation  is
violating, or is about to violate, any provision of law en-
forced by the Federal Trade Commission, and 

“(2) that the enjoining thereof pending the issuance 
of a complaint by the Commission and until such com-
plaint is dismissed by the Commission or set aside by 
the court on review, or until the order of the Commis-
sion  made  thereon  has  become  final,  would  be  in  the 
interest of the public— 

“the Commission by any of its attorneys designated by 
it for such purpose may bring suit in a district court of
the  United  States  to  enjoin  any  such  act  or  practice.
Upon a proper showing that, weighing the equities and 
considering  the  Commission’s  likelihood  of  ultimate 
success, such action would be in the public interest, and 
after notice to the defendant, a temporary restraining
order or a preliminary injunction may be granted with-
out bond: Provided, however, That if a complaint is not