Court contemplates the void (TRO)

February 18, 2018

In the case of In re Elavacity, the Fifth Court stayed trial court proceedings after the grant of a TRO (thus ensuring the matter did not become moot, given the short time frame associated with a TRO), and then granted mandamus relief. It identified three defects with the order that made it void:

  1. “[I]t does not include an explanation of why it was issued without notice to relators”;
  2. “[I]tt does not define the injury it is designed to prevent, does not explain why such injury would be irreparable, and is not specific in its terms”; and
  3. “[T]he order enjoins relators from taking certain actions related to Pruvit’s ‘trade secrets, confidential and/or proprietary information,’ and Pruvit’s existing promoters. However, the order does not describe what constitutes a trade secret, confidential information, and/or proprietary information or who is an ‘existing promoter.’”

No. 05-18-00135-CV (Feb. 16, 2017) (mem. op.)