Edelsten v. Mawardi et al

Filing 18

ORDER granting in part 16 Motion for Preliminary Injunction. Hearing set for 9/18/2012 09:15 AM in Miami Division before Judge Robert N. Scola Jr.. Signed by Judge Robert N. Scola, Jr on 9/13/2012. (mmz)

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF FLORIDA
Case No. 12-61772-Civ-SCOLA/SNOW
GEOFFREY EDELSTEN,
Plaintiff,
vs.
RAFAEL MAWARDI, et al.,
Defendants.
_____________________________________/
TEMPORARY RESTRAINING ORDER
THIS MATTER is before the Court upon the Plaintiff’s Emergency Motion for
Preliminary Injunction (ECF No. 17). Under Fed. R. Civ. P. 65(a)(1), a Court may issue a
preliminary injunction only on notice to the adverse party. However, Federal Rule of Civil
Procedure 65(b) provides:
The court may issue a temporary restraining order without written or oral notice to the
adverse party or its attorney only if:
(A) specific facts in an affidavit or a verified complaint clearly show that
immediate and irreparable injury, loss, or damage will result to the movant before
the adverse party can be heard in opposition; and
(B) the movant's attorney certifies in writing any efforts made to give notice and
the reasons why it should not be required.
Fed. R. Civ. P. 65(b).
The same standard applies for determination of whether to grant a temporary restraining
order as for a preliminary injunction, requiring (1) a substantial likelihood of success on the
merits; (2) that irreparable injury will be suffered if the relief is not granted; (3) that the
threatened injury outweighs the harm the relief would inflict on the nonmovant; and (4) that the
entry of the relief would serve the public interest. Schiavo v. Schiavo, 403 F.3d 1223, 1225–26
(11th Cir. 2005). The Plaintiff’s Motion and attached affidavit states that the Defendants

attempted to extort him with threats that they will disseminate unauthorized photographs of the
Plaintiff unless Plaintiff gives into their demands for money. The Motion and attached affidavit
also state that the Defendants have been continually contacting the Plaintiff, despite his attempts
to tell the Defendants, through his counsel, to stop attempting to communicate with him directly.
Having reviewed the motion, and without making a finding as to the truth of the
Plaintiff’s allegations, it is ORDERED AND ADJUDGED that the Emergency Motion for a
Preliminary Injunction is GRANTED IN PART as follows:
(1) A temporary restraining order is hereby issued:
(a) The Defendants, their agents, servants, employees and attorneys and all other
persons who are in active concert or participation with any of the aforementioned
shall be ENJOINED AND PROHIBITED from making extortionate threats
toward Plaintiff; disseminating any unauthorized photographs of Plaintiff, and
from demanding monies from Plaintiff in exchange for not disseminating
unauthorized photographs of Plaintiff.
(b) The Defendants, their agents, servants, employees and attorneys and all other
persons who are in active concert or participation with any of the aforementioned
shall be ENJOINED AND PROHIBITED from communicating with Plaintiff,
except through Plaintiff’s counsel.
(2) As a condition of this Order, and pursuant to Florida law and Fed. R. Civ. P. 65(c),
the Plaintiff shall post a bond in the amount of $5,000 by Tuesday, September 18,
2012 at 2:00 pm to pay the costs and damages sustained by any party found to have
been wrongfully enjoined or restrained.
(3) A Copy of this Order, together with the copies of the Complaint (ECF No. 1) and the
present Motion (ECF No. 17), shall be personally served (or attempted to be

personally served) upon Defendants Rafael Mawardi, a/k/a “Alfie” Mawardi at 4142
N. 28th Terr., Hollywood, FL 33020, and Isaac Mawardi, a/k/a Keith Mawardi at 5601
Royal Oak Way, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33312 or at such other location at which
Defendants may be found and that such service shall be deemed good and sufficient
notice of this Order.
(4) This temporary restraining order will expire within fourteen days of the entry of this
order.
(5) A hearing on this motion shall be held at 9:15 AM on Tuesday, September 18,
2012 before the undersigned at 400 N. Miami Ave., Room 12-3, Miami, Florida
33128.

DONE and ORDERED in chambers, at Miami, Florida on September 13, 2012 at 6:20 pm.

________________________________
ROBERT N. SCOLA, JR.
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE
Copies to:
Designated U.S. Magistrate Judge
Counsel of record