Opinion ID: 532991
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Incorporation of the SFFD General Order

Text: 66 Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 65(d) by its terms prohibits incorporation by reference of another document into an injunctive order. 9 The Union argues that the incorporation by the district court of sections of the SFFD General Order into its 1988 injunction violated Rule 65(d) and was an abuse of discretion which requires reversal. 67 The law of this circuit is that [o]rdinarily, an injunction should not incorporate by reference another document. Henry Hope X-Ray Products, Inc. v. Marron Carrel, Inc., 674 F.2d 1336, 1343 (9th Cir.1982). The Union cites language in the opinions of other circuits which appears to read the incorporation requirement very strictly. See, e.g., Thomas v. Brock, 810 F.2d 448, 450 (4th Cir.1987) (the requirements of rule 65(d) are mandatory and must be observed in every instance) and H.K. Porter Co., Inc. v. National Friction Products Corp., 568 F.2d 24, 27 (7th Cir.1977) (ignoring rule's mandatory requirement serious and decisive error). This circuit, however, has not taken a rigid approach to Rule 65(d). For example, in Henry Hope X-Ray, we held that the district court did not err in failing to attach a confidential appendix to its order, where the appendix was transmitted to the parties. Henry Hope X-Ray, 674 F.2d at 1343. 68 The primary purpose of Rule 65(d) is to assure adequate notice to parties faced with the possibility of contempt. Henry Hope X-Ray, 674 F.2d at 1343. See also International Longshoremen's Ass'n, Local 1291 v. Philadelphia Marine Trade Ass'n, 389 U.S. 64, 76, 88 S.Ct. 201, 208, 19 L.Ed.2d 236 (1967). Here, the document incorporated into the 1988 injunction consisted of fire department rules already binding upon the officers of the SFFD. It is unlikely the officers could argue they were unaware of these rules. 69 We conclude that the district court's failure to cause a copy of the SFFD General Order to be stapled to the 1988 injunction does not require reversal of the court's grant of the injunction. 10 In view of the language of Rule 65(d), however, by separate order filed herewith we order that copies of the incorporated SFFD General Order be attached to the 1988 injunction and served upon the affected parties.