JUDGE BRAUN GRANTS TEMPORARY INJUNCTION: On Monday April 17th 2000, NY State Supreme Court Judge Richard Braun granted ferret-owners' motion for a temporary injunction prohibiting the City from enforcing its ferret ban. This injunction will remain in effect for at least a month and possibly longer pending the outcome of upcoming events. The Judge also invited the City to file additional papers in support of its cross-motion to dismiss which presumably will involve explaining their rational basis for banning ferrets. Once the additional papers have been submitted, Irving Heisler (the lawyer for the ferret-owners) will have an opportunity to file a rebuttal. The deadline for both sides to file their additional information is in early May. Although the temporary injunction means that for now New York City ferret owners can breathe a bit easier knowing that their ferrets are safe from confiscation, bear in mind that the injunction is temporary. I would still advise discretion with regards to letting the world know you have ferrets living with you until the final outcome of the lawsuit. As Gary Kaskel put it: "We've won the first battle. Now on to win the war!" [Posted in FML issue 3028]