Stas v. Commissioner of Social Security

Opinion

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT MIDDLE DISTRICT OF FLORIDA FORT MYERS DIVISION

MICHAEL STAS,

Plaintiff,

v. Case No.: 2:25-cv-660-SPC-KCD

COMMISSIONER OF SOCIAL SECURITY,

Defendant. / OPINION AND ORDER Before the Court is Pro se Plaintiff Michael Stas’ Motion for a Temporary Restraining Order and Motion for a Preliminary Injunction.1 (Doc. 7). For the below reasons, the Court denies the request for a TRO and takes under advisement the request for a preliminary injunction. The primary difference between a TRO and preliminary injunction is that a court may grant a TRO motion without notice to the opposing party or an opportunity to be heard. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 65(a)-(b). Accordingly, TROs “should be restricted to serving their underlying purpose of preserving the status quo and preventing irreparable harm just so long as is necessary to hold a [preliminary-injunction] hearing, and no longer.” Granny Goose Foods, Inc.

1 Plaintiff previously filed a motion seeking similar emergency relief. (Doc. 3), which the Court denied. (Doc. 7). v. Bhd. of Teamsters & Auto Truck Drivers Loc. No. 70 of Alameda Cnty., 415 U.S. 423, 439 (1974).

Plaintiff initiated this action on July 29, 2025. (Doc. 1). Defendant has appeared, and service of Plaintiff’s summons and complaint is unnecessary under Rule 3 of the Supplemental Rules for Social Security Action. (Docs. 6, 8). Given this posture, the immediate ex parte relief provided by a TRO is

inappropriate. See Swiler v. RSJ Ventures, LLC, No. 2:24-cv-00661-SPC, Doc. 39 (M.D. Fla. Jan. 7, 2025); Harley’s Hope Found. v. Harley’s Dream, No. 22- CV-0136-WJM-STV, 2022 WL 824415, at *1 (D. Colo. Mar. 18, 2022). The Court denies the TRO request and takes the preliminary-injunction request

under advisement. Accordingly, it is now ORDERED: 1. Plaintiff’s Motion for Temporary Restraining Order and Preliminary

Injunction (Doc. 7) is DENIED in part as to its request for a TRO. The request for preliminary injunction remains under advisement. 2. On or before August 26, 2025, Defendant must respond to Plaintiff’s request for preliminary injunction.

3. The Court will set a preliminary-injunction hearing by separate notice. DONE and ORDERED in Fort Myers, Florida on August 12, 2025.

tit WOblatet he UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE Copies: All Parties of Record