Opinion ID: 1399066
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Serious Question Standard

Text: The party seeking a preliminary injunction is required to make a clear showing of probable success on the merits when they do not stand to suffer irreparable harm, or where the party against whom the injunction is sought will suffer injury if the injunction is issued. A.J. Industries, 470 P.2d at 540. The trial court explicitly applied the serious and substantial question standard because it concluded that the balance of hardships clearly tipped toward the residents of Kluti Kaah. Our assessment of the balance of hardship is considerably different, and therefore we conclude that the trial court applied the wrong standard to the case. Accordingly, we hold that the superior court failed to adequately weigh and protect the interests of the state, other hunters, or the resource in issuing its injunction. Since the state's interests were significantly harmed by the injunction, the trial court should have also required Kluti Kaah to make a clear showing of probable success on the merits. We therefore VACATE the injunction and return the case to the superior court for further proceedings on the merits.