Opinion ID: 1399066
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Adequate Protection

Text: In her order, Judge Katz stated: Should the only change in the hunt be the extension of the season for the members of Kluti Kaah, the court can perceive no adverse impact on the state from a procedural standpoint. Nor would the public in general or sports hunters in particular suffer any material infringement of hunting opportunity or diminution of the moose population. With a cap of 40 moose, any advantage obtained by the people of Kluti Kaah would be de minimis. The state strenuously disagrees with the court's assessment of the harm caused by the issuance of the injunction. It claims that the injunction interferes with its role as protector of the resource. It also maintains that other subsistence users, whom it represents and whose interests the court must consider, are inadequately protected by this order. [6] We agree. The trial court failed to consider the clear ramifications of its decision. Although the forty moose limit imposed by the court may adequately protect the moose population if no other similarly situated groups seek an extended hunting season, the superior court can in no way ensure that others will not seek similar relief. If this distinct possibility, in fact, occurs, we question the court's acumen, given the procedural and substantive limitations of a trial setting, to accurately determine when the moose population is taxed. [7] It was evident at the time the court issued the injunction that Kluti Kaah residents were being advantaged when compared to other subsistence hunters. They would not have to compete with the others, could be more opportunistic in deciding when to hunt, and would have more time in which to bag their limit. It should have also been evident that other similarly situated groups would want the same advantages and would begin a rush to the courthouse. [8] This likelihood has now been borne out by the seven other Native villages that have filed suit. In determining whether to issue a preliminary injunction, the trial court should have considered the threat that multiple injunctions would represent to the moose population and the problems it would create for orderly game allocation. [9] Its failure to do so constitutes an abuse of discretion.