Doe I v. Google LLC

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

JOHN DOE I, et al., Case No. 23-cv-02431-VC

Plaintiffs,

ORDER DENYING MOTION FOR

v. PRELIMINARY INJUNCTION

GOOGLE LLC, Re: Dkt. No. 42 Defendant.

The plaintiffs’ motion for a preliminary injunction is denied.1 A “preliminary injunction is an extraordinary and drastic remedy” where “the requirement for substantial proof” is high and “the movant, by a clear showing, carries the burden of persuasion.” Mazurek v. Armstrong, 520 U.S. 968, 972 (1997). Based on the evidence the plaintiffs presented, they have not met their burden. There is doubt as to their likelihood of success on the merits and, even if there are serious questions going to the merits, the plaintiffs have failed to show the balance of hardships tips sharply in their favor or that a preliminary injunction would serve the public interest. See Alliance for the Wild Rockies v. Pena, 865 F.3d 1211, 1217 (9th Cir. 2017). Two preliminary matters. First, the plaintiffs’ rebuttal declaration from Dr. Zubair Shafiq is excluded. This declaration was included with the plaintiffs’ reply brief and contains…