Page:Washington v. U.S. Food and Drug Administration (E.D. Wash. 2023).pdf/28

 Generally, there is no “requirement that an injunction affect only the parties in the suit.” Bresgal v. Brock, 843 F.2d 1163, 1169 (9th Cir. 1987). While courts have the authority to issue nationwide preliminary injunctions, the Ninth Circuit cautions they are for “exceptional cases” and that have proof of “an articulated connection to a plaintiff’s particular harm.” E. Bay Sanctuary Covenant v. Barr, 934 F.3d 1026, 1029 (9th Cir. 2019). “District judges must require a showing of nationwide impact or sufficient similarity to the plaintiff states to foreclose litigation in other districts.” Azar, 911 F.3d at 584; see also ''City & Cnty. of San Francisco v. Trump'', 897 F.3d 1225, 1244 (9th Cir. 2018) (noting record must be developed on nationwide impact).

First, the Court finds a nationwide injunction inappropriate where the record does not demonstrate a nationwide impact of sufficient similarity to Plaintiffs’ situation. Azar, 911 F.3d at 584. Abortion restrictions vary state-by-state and Plaintiffs allege harm not shared nationwide. For example, Plaintiffs allege harm from the 2023 REMS in light of the influx of patients from states who do not have similar services available. Second, the Court finds a nationwide injunction inappropriate where there is the potential for competing litigation. Id. at 583