Opinion
05 Civ. 7136 (WHP).
August 17, 2005
Denis B. Frind, Esq., Goetz Fitzpatrick LLP, New York, NY, Counsel for Petitioner.
Lowell Peterson, Esq., Meyer, Suozzi, English Klein, P.C. New York, NY, Counsel for Respondent.
ORDER
Petitioner ABAX Incorporated ("ABAX") brings this motion for a temporary restraining order to enjoin Respondent from proceeding with the grievance procedure established by the collective bargaining agreement ("CBA") entered between the parties. The parties are scheduled to appear before a Joint Arbitration Board on August 18, 2005 concerning a grievance filed against ABAX by Respondent's constituent, Local 78. For the reasons set forth below, Petitioner's motion is denied.
This Court treats ABAX's letter to the Court, dated August 16, 2005, ABAX's Petition filed in the Supreme Court of the State of New York, dated August 9, 2005 and the supporting Affidavit of John Bleckman of the same date ("Bleckman Aff.") as a motion for a temporary restraining order under Rule 65 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. Such relief may be granted only where a movant can demonstrate "first, irreparable injury, and, second, either (a) likelihood of success on the merits, or (b) sufficiently serious questions going to the merits and a balance of hardships decidedly tipped in the movant's favor." Green Party of New York State v. New York State Bd. of Elections, 389 F.3d 411, 418 (2d Cir. 2004); Prayze FM v. F.C.C., 214 F.3d 245, 249 (2d Cir. 2000); Rosen v. Siegel, 106 F.3d 28, 32 (2d Cir. 1997); see also Wenner Media LLC v. N. Shell N. Am. Ltd., No. 05 Civ. 1286 (CSH), 2005 WL 323727, at *3 (S.D.N.Y. Feb. 8, 2005).
A showing of probable irreparable harm is "the single most important prerequisite" for the issuance of a temporary restraining order and therefore, "a moving party must first demonstrate that such injury is likely before the other requirements . . . will be considered." Reuters Ltd. v. United Press Int'l, Inc., 903 F.2d 904, 907 (2d Cir. 1990) (internal quotation marks and citations omitted); see also Johnson Controls Inc. v. A.P.T. Critical Sys., Inc., 323 F. Supp. 2d 525, 531 (S.D.N.Y. 2004). Further, ABAX must show the harm "to be imminent, not remote or speculative, and the alleged injury must be one incapable of being fully remedied by monetary damages."Reuters, 903 F.2d at 907 (citations omitted); see also Wenner, 2005 WL 323727, at *3.
Petitioner has not demonstrated any imminent irreparable harm. Petitioner seeks to stay arbitration. It is undisputed, however, that the proceeding before the Joint Arbitration Board on August 18, 2005 is not an arbitration proceeding, but rather a stage of the grievance procedure pursuant to the terms of the CBA. (Transcript of Hearing on August 16, 2005 at 14, 18.) Because no arbitration has yet been invoked pursuant to Step 4 of the CBA, this Court concludes that Petitioner's motion for a temporary restraining order is premature.
CONCLUSION
For the foregoing reasons, Petitioner's motion for a temporary restraining order is denied without prejudice.
SO ORDERED.