Justice Paul Wooten
Candidate for Kings County District Attorney (D.A.) in the 2013 election, George, sought a temporary restraining order (TRO) and preliminary injunction enjoining defendants, including current D.A. Hynes, from promoting and advertising “Brooklyn D.A.,” which was scheduled to have an initial air date of May 2013, or using state money to further Hynes’ political campaign for reelection. Plaintiffs alleged two causes of action, including to restrain CBS from giving an unlawful campaign contribution to the Hynes defendants, arguing its airing of the six-week reality show amounted to in-kind services and campaign contribution in excess of the maximum limit permitted by the Finance Law. The court held a hearing, including testimony from a senior executive producer at CBS News, and after reviewing all submissions and considering the evidence denied plaintiffs’ application for a preliminary injunction. It found plaintiffs failed to meet the required standards for injunctive relief, noting the show aired as previously scheduled on May 28, 2013. Also, as the court denied the TRO and preliminary injunction, and as George never sought declaratory relief on any of his asserted claims in the complaint, the court sua sponte dismissed the complaint.
