Walter Booker v. R. Timmons

644 F. App'x 219

• Court: Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
• Decided: April 7, 2016
• Docket: 15-7720
• Status: Unpublished

Opinion

Vacated and remanded by unpublished PER CURIAM opinion.

Unpublished opinions are not binding precedent in this circuit.

PER CURIAM:

Virginia inmate Walter Booker appeals the district court’s order denying his request for a preliminary injunction in this 42 U.S.C. § 1983 (2012) action. The district court denied the requested injunction because Booker did not show that he could satisfy any of the factors set forth in Winter v. Natural Resources Def. Council, Inc., 555 U.S. 7, 20, 129 S.Ct. 365, 172 L.Ed.2d 249 (2008). The court made no specific findings of fact in reaching this conclusion. Rule 52(a)(2), Fed.R.Civ.P., requires that the district court make particularized findings of fact supporting its decision to grant or deny a preliminary injunction; such findings are necessary in order for an appellate court to conduct meaningful appellate review. See H & R Block Tax Servs. LLC v. Acevedo-Lopez, 742 F.3d 1074, 1078 (8th Cir.2014); Kisano Trade & Invest Ltd. v. Lemster, 505 Fed.Appx. 147, 148 (3d Cir.2012). In the absence of any such specific findings, we are constrained to conclude that the district court abused its discretion in denying the requested injunction. See WV Ass’n of Club Owners & Fraternal Servs., Inc. v. Musgrave, 553 F.3d 292, 298 (4th Cir.2009) (stating standard of review). We accordingly vacate the decision of the district court and remand for further proceedings. We dispense with oral argument because the facts and legal contentions are adequately presented in the materials before the court and argument would not aid the decisional process.

VACATED AND REMANDED.