The Trustees Of Columbia University in the City of New York v. Encyclopaedia…

Background

The opinion concerns two related cases involving The Trustees of Columbia University in the City of New York and Encyclopaedia Iranica Foundation, Inc. The court had concluded an evidentiary hearing on Encyclopaedia Iranica Foundation, Inc.’s motion for a preliminary injunction against Columbia, Elton Daniel, and Brill USA, Inc. A preliminary injunction is a court order that temporarily requires or prohibits conduct while a case continues.

Orders for Further Submissions

The court directed each party to submit a brief by September 3, 2020. Each brief had to include, at minimum:

- a statement of facts citing the hearing transcript, with page and line numbers for each asserted fact, or citing exhibits with page numbers; and - a section describing the applicable law.

The court also ordered each party to file opposition papers by September 10, 2020.

Temporary Restraining Order

The court extended the temporary restraining order entered on July 31, 2020, until October 8, 2020, at 7:00 p.m. A temporary restraining order is a short-term order preserving the status quo before the court decides whether to issue a preliminary injunction.

The court found good cause under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 65(b)(2) to extend the order until after the parties submitted their post-hearing briefs. It stated that the additional time would allow consideration of those submissions and that the extension was supported by the reasons given in the earlier decision granting the temporary restraining order.

Disposition

The order set briefing deadlines and extended the temporary restraining order. It did not state a final ruling on Encyclopaedia Iranica Foundation, Inc.’s motion for a preliminary injunction. Judge Analisa Torres signed the order.