Santa Clara University Defeats Temporary Restraining Order Application Seeking to Block University’s COVID-19 Vaccine Mandate

Paul, Weiss, on behalf of Santa Clara University (SCU) and two SCU employees, secured the denial of an application made by SCU students and a religious organizational plaintiff to block SCU’s COVID-19 booster mandate, which went into effect on March 17. The plaintiffs, who filed suit in Santa Clara County Superior Court, brought various constitutional, contractual and tort claims, seeking an immediate stay, temporary restraining order and order to show cause regarding a preliminary injunction in connection with the booster mandate.

In opposition to the application, the Paul, Weiss team argued that the plaintiffs failed to demonstrate a likelihood of success on the merits, and that the relative harm to SCU and its community from granting the application would far outweigh any harm to the plaintiffs. The court denied the application “for lack of sufficient factual and legal bases” to establish such a right to relief.

The Paul, Weiss team included litigation partners Randy Luskey, Liza Velazquez and Gregory Laufer and counsel Maria Keane and Robert Kravitz.