Blackburn v. Washington Department of Social & Health Services

MEMORANDUM

Plaintiffs Patricia Blackburn and eight Psychiatric Security Attendants employed at Western State Hospital (collectively, “Plaintiffs”) appeal the district court’s order denying their motion for a preliminary injunction seeking to enjoin Defendants State of Washington Department of Social and Health Services, Western State Hospital, the Chief Operating Officer of Western State Hospital, and the Director of the Center for Forensic Studies at Western State Hospital from enforcing any policy or practice that segregates or assigns hospital employees by race. We have jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1292 (a)(1), and we affirm.

“A plaintiff seeking a prehminary injunction must establish that he is likely to succeed on the merits, that he is likely to suffer irreparable harm in the absence of preliminary relief, that the balance of equities tips in his favor, and that an injunction is in the public interest.” Winter v. Natural Res. Def. Council, Inc., 555 U.S. 7, 20 , 129 S.Ct. 365 , 172 L.Ed.2d 249 (2008). We will reverse a district court’s denial of a preliminary injunction only when it has abused its discretion. M.R. v. Dreyfus, 663 F.3d 1100, 1107 (9th Cir.2011).

Although…