Opinion ID: 151935
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Scott's Injury Is Irreparable.

Text: Scott argues that the harm he stands to suffer if we do not grant preliminary relief is irreparable. Scott contends that when he triggers the excess spending subsidy, he will speak less than he wants. Moreover, he states that he will direct more of his speech through section 527 organizations, which cannot speak unfettered in favor of his candidacy. The district court credited these claims. Neither the Secretary nor McCollum denies that these harms will accrue if we do not enjoin enforcement of the excess spending subsidy. Instead, they argue that Scott has no right, under the First Amendment, to avoid those harms, but that argument is about whether Scott is likely to succeed later on the merits. Scott's alleged injury is obviously irreparable. An injury is irreparable if it cannot be undone through monetary remedies. Cunningham v. Adams, 808 F.2d 815, 821 (11th Cir.1987). Even when a later money judgment might undo an alleged injury, the alleged injury is irreparable if damages would be difficult or impossible to calculate. Fla. Businessmen for Free Enter. v. City of Hollywood, 648 F.2d 956, 958 n. 2 (5th Cir. Unit B June 1981). We have repeatedly held that harms to speech rights `for even minimal periods of time, unquestionably constitute[] irreparable injury' supporting preliminary relief. Id. at 958 (quoting Elrod v. Burns, 427 U.S. 347, 373, 96 S.Ct. 2673, 2690, 49 L.Ed.2d 547 (1976)); see also KH Outdoor, LLC v. City of Trussville, 458 F.3d 1261, 1271-72 (11th Cir.2006); Let's Help Fla. v. McCrary, 621 F.2d 195, 199 (5th Cir.1980). The rationale behind these decisions [is] that chilled free speech..., because of [its] intangible nature, could not be compensated for by monetary damages; in other words, plaintiffs could not be made whole. Ne. Fla. Chapter of the Ass'n of Gen. Contractors of Am. v. City of Jacksonville, Fla., 896 F.2d 1283, 1285 (11th Cir.1990). Scott has established irreparable injury.