Court Opinion

ID: 9670372
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-24 03:19:33.722529+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:16:04.089213
License: Public Domain

CRIPPEN, Judge,
dissenting.
The Minnesota Supreme Court has announced the five considerations which are relevant in deciding whether the trial court has abused its discretion in granting or denying a temporary injunction. Dahlberg Brothers, Inc. v. Ford Motor Co., 272 Minn. 264, 274-75, 137 N.W.2d 314, 321-22 (1965). Identification of these standards is a settled matter of Minnesota law which has not been disturbed by subsequent appellate decisions.
By rule Minnesota trial court decisions granting or refusing temporary injunctions are to be accompanied by findings of fact identifying the grounds for the court’s decision. Minn.R.Civ.P. 52.01; Crowley Co. v. Metropolitan Airports Commission, 394 N.W.2d 542, 544-45 (Minn.Ct.App.1986) (denial of temporary injunction remanded for appropriate findings). See In re Amitad, Inc., 397 N.W.2d 594, 596 (Minn.Ct.App. 1986) (remand for findings on a trial court’s refusal to dissolve a temporary injunction). Particularized findings are a prerequisite to meaningful appellate review in cases where the trial court has broad discretion and is governed by specific legal standards. Minn.R.Civ.P. 52.01 (advisory committee note); see Crowley, 394 N.W.2d at 545.
Here the trial court’s findings addressed only one of the five Dahlberg standards, the consideration as to comparative harm to be suffered by the parties if the temporary injunction is denied or granted. This limited approach to the topic was evidently prompted by belief that some general principles of injunction law supplant the Dahl-berg considerations.
The trial court noted supreme court statements, one prior to the Dahlberg decision and another in a permanent injunction case, identifying issues on the adequacy of the claimant’s legal remedies and the extent and irreparability of its alleged injuries. These general observations do not take the place of the five Dahlberg considerations. The irreparability of claimant’s harm and the inadequacy of its legal remedies are considerations incorporated into one of the five Dahlberg considerations, the factor regarding comparative harm to be suffered by the parties. Dahlberg, 272 Minn, at 275 n. 12,137 N.W.2d at 321 n. 12; see Lano Equipment, Inc. v. Clark Equipment Co., 399 N.W.2d 694, 697-98 (Minn. Ct.App.1987), pet. for rev. denied (Minn. Apr. 17, 1987S) (discussion of legal remedies and irreparability of harm as part of consideration on comparative hardships).
On this record, we cannot complete meaningful review and should remand for particularized findings. I respectfully dissent.