Opinion ID: 1613814
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: propriety of injunction

Text: A court may enjoin conduct which, unrestrained, would produce injury to the plaintiff when it shall appear by the complaint that the plaintiff is entitled to the relief demanded.... NDCC § 32-06-02(1). The factors appropriate to determining whether injunctive relief should be granted are: (1) substantial probability of succeeding on the merits; (2) irreparable injury; (3) harm to other interested parties; (4) effect on the public interest. F-M Asphalt, Inc. v. North Dakota State Hwy. Dept., 384 N.W.2d 663 (N.D.1986). The decision to grant or deny a preliminary injunction is within the discretion of the trial court, and its determination will not be disturbed on appeal unless it appears that the court clearly abused its discretion. Schauer v. Jamestown College, 323 N.W.2d 114, 115 (N.D.1982). The protestors argue, without citing any authority, that the preliminary injunction is improper because it constitutes the substitution of a civil remedy for the criminal process. In particular, they argue that North Dakota criminal law provides an adequate remedy at law and that the purpose of the injunction is to impermissibly substitute a single judge for the protections provided defendants by the criminal justice system. In the past, this court has recognized the principal that equity has no jurisdiction to restrain the commission of crimes, and that injunction may not issue for the prevention of criminal acts unconnected with violation of legal rights. Richmond v. Miller, 70 N.D. 157, 158-59, 292 N.W. 633, 634 (1940); see also NDCC § 32-05-02. But, when the acts sought to be enjoined interfere with legal rights, the court's power to issue an injunction is not destroyed because the acts are punishable as a crime. In such a case, the equitable powers of the court are not put forth to enjoin the commission of a crime, although that may incidentally result; they are put forth to protect legal rights against invasion by acts which, if committed, would cause injury for which the ordinary remedies at law would not afford adequate relief. Richmond v. Miller, 70 N.D. at 159, 292 N.W. at 635. See also Missouri-Kansas-Texas R. Co. v. Neuhoff Bros., Packers, 297 S.W.2d 316 (Tex.Civ.App.1956) [injunction proper to protect landowner from repeated violations of penal law which interfered with owner's use of property]; 42 Am.Jur.2d, Injunctions § 40 (1969). The affidavits offered by the clinic described repeated instances where the protestors invaded the clinic, approached patients or clinic employees in a physically threatening manner, actually struck or restrained patients or employees, blockaded the clinic, and conducted demonstrations so noisy that clinic business was disrupted. The affidavits reported that these activities continued despite the arrests on several occasions of many protestors. The protestors did not challenge this evidence. Relying on this record, the district court found that the clinic made a prima facie showing on its claims of intentional infliction of emotional distress, private and public nuisance and interference with contract, and, as a result, it had shown probable success on the merits justifying the imposition of the preliminary injunction. We conclude that the district court did not abuse its discretion in granting the preliminary injunction.