Opinion ID: 731322
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: The Requirements for Injunctive Relief

Text: 64 Even if Lexecon's claims were barred by res judicata, Milberg Weiss has still failed to show that the district court abused its discretion in declining to grant injunctive relief. To obtain a preliminary injunction, a party must show either (1) a likelihood of success on the merits and the possibility of irreparable injury; or (2) the existence of serious questions going to the merits and the balance of hardships tipping in the movant's favor. MAI Sys. Corp. v. Peak Computer, Inc., 991 F.2d 511, 516 (9th Cir.1993) (internal quotation omitted), cert. dismissed, 510 U.S. 1033, 114 S.Ct. 671, 126 L.Ed.2d 640 (1994). At the time the Milberg Weiss motion was filed, no such showing could be made. At that time, February 6, 1995, Milberg Weiss had also moved for a permanent transfer of this case to the Arizona District, and Judge Roll was poised to rule on Lexecon's motion to refer the case to the JPML for remand. His rulings thereafter were generally favorable to Milberg Weiss. Even had these rulings been adverse to Milberg Weiss, it could have appealed them to this court; therefore, it could not show either the possibility of irreparable injury or that the balance of hardships tipped in its favor. See United States v. Rohm & Haas Co., 721 F.Supp. 666, 699 (D.N.J.1989) (refusing to enjoin itself from entering proposed consent decree where appealability of the decree defeated any claim of irreparable harm). Nor was there any indication that Lexecon was likely to initiate an entirely new lawsuit on the same claims in a different forum. In short, Milberg Weiss failed to establish the conditions prerequisite to the issuance of the preliminary and permanent injunctions it sought. 11