Opinion ID: 726119
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Injunction Order

Text: 59 We review the district court's grant of a permanent injunction for an abuse of discretion. United States v. Green Acres Enterprises, Inc., 86 F.3d 130, 132 (8th Cir.1996); Soo Line R. Co., 850 F.2d at 374. Abuse of discretion occurs if the district court reaches its conclusion by applying erroneous legal principles or relying on clearly erroneous factual findings. Id. 60 The Eighth Circuit balances four factors to determine whether injunctive relief is warranted: (1) the threat of irreparable harm to the movant; (2) the state of balance between this harm and the harm to be suffered by the nonmoving party if the injunction is granted; (3) the probability that the movant will succeed on the merits; and (4) the public interest. Dataphase Systems, Inc. v. C L Systems, Inc., 640 F.2d 109, 113 (8th Cir.1981) (en banc). The standard is the same for a permanent injunction except that the movant must show actual success on the merits. Amoco Production Co. v. Village of Gambell, Alaska, 480 U.S. 531, 546 n. 12, 107 S.Ct. 1396, 1404 n. 12, 94 L.Ed.2d 542 (1987). The district court did not make explicit findings with respect to these four factors. However, by prevailing on its usury claim the plaintiff class has demonstrated that the four factors of this test overwhelmingly militate in favor of an injunction. 61 As demonstrated in this opinion, the plaintiff class has shown actual success on the merits. In addition, public interest overwhelmingly favors enjoining these contracts. The public policy of Minnesota is revealed in its consumer protection statutory scheme including the usury statute, the CCSA and the RPAA. The actions enjoined here violate the letter and spirit of this statutory scheme and are clearly against the public interest. To balance against this, the only harm to RAC is the loss of the usurious portion of its income. 62 RAC contends that the plaintiff class has failed to show irreparable injury because the district court has established a formula for calculating money damages. However, this formula only compensates for past damages and only reaches class members who have been identified. Estimating future losses of similarly situated individuals if RAC continues its practices is virtually impossible, as is identifying those potential victims of their practices. Giving due weight to each of the four factors, we are satisfied that there has been no abuse of discretion by the district court.