Families facing eviction and benefit cuts cannot get emergency court orders without evidence.
Tracy Ann Pillow Michael Anthony Pillow Velvet Darleen Taylor Austin Lee
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Families facing eviction and benefit cuts cannot get emergency court orders without evidence.
Why it matters
In Pillow et al. v. Commissioner of Social Security et al., a federal district court in Maryland denied the plaintiffs' Emergency Motion for a Temporary Restraining Order and Writ of Mandamus. The court found that the seven self-represented plaintiffs failed to meet any of the four required legal standards for emergency injunctive relief, including demonstrating a likelihood of success on the merits and a likelihood of irreparable harm. The court also ruled that a writ of mandamus could not reach the private-company defendants, and that even as to the Social Security Administration, no such writ was warranted at this early stage.
Who it affects
- Housing
- Vehicle repossession
- Utilities at this time. More broadly
- Including those representing themselves
What happens next
Current
Decision issued Oct 9, 2026
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Parties can ask the same court to reconsider. Then: possible appeal to the circuit court.
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- Decision issued Oct 9, 2026
- Possible rehearingParties can ask the same court to reconsider.
- Possible appeal to the circuit court
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Oct 9, 2026
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DEEPER READ
Seven self-represented family members filed a lawsuit against 30 defendants, including the Social Security Administration, a car lender, an apartment complex, and utility companies. They asked the court to immediately order those defendants to restore benefits, return a vehicle, stop eviction proceedings, preserve communication services, halt alleged electronic surveillance, and hand over records, all on an emergency basis before any defendant had been served or had a chance to respond. To win a temporary restraining order or preliminary injunction, a court requires the moving party to clearly show four things: a likely chance of winning the underlying case, a risk of irreparable harm without the order, a balance of equities favoring the request, and that granting the order would serve the public interest. A moving party must satisfy all four requirements. The court found that the plaintiffs fell short on every element. On likelihood of success, the plaintiffs offered no specific evidence to back up their claims, including no documentation that Social Security benefits were unlawfully cut, no proof that the car was taken without legal authority, and no evidence supporting their allegations that defendants hacked their devices or conducted surveillance. On irreparable harm, the court noted that financial losses such as unpaid benefits can typically be repaired by a money judgment later, and the plaintiffs did not explain how missing electronic records would cause harm that could not be undone. On the public interest, the court reasoned that issuing an ex parte order, meaning one entered without defendants having been notified or heard, before any defendant had even been served weighed against granting emergency relief. Regarding the request for a writ of mandamus, the court explained that federal district courts can only issue such writs against federal officers, employees, or agencies. Because most defendants are private companies, the writ was simply unavailable to reach them. As for the SSA, a federal agency, the court declined to issue a writ given the lack of any showing of likely success. The court's denial does not resolve the underlying lawsuit, which continues. It only means the plaintiffs will not receive emergency court-ordered relief at this early stage.
CITATION AND RECORD
Record source: CourtListener
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT DISTRICT OF MARYLAND TRACY ANN PILLOW, MICHAEL ANTHONY PILLOW, VELVET DARLEEN TAYLOR, AUSTIN LEE BRITTON, MARIAH FRANCES PILLOW, XAVIAN MICHAEL PILLOW and MALEAYA AMELIA PILLOW, Plaintiffs, Civil Action No. 26-4139-TDC v. COMMISSIONER OF SOCIAL SECURITY, et al., Defendants. MEMORANDUM ORDER Self-represented Plaintiffs Tracy Ann Pillow, Michael Anthony Pillow, Velvet Darleen Taylor, Austin Lee Britton, Mariah Frances Pillow, Xavian Michael Pillow, and Maleaya Amelia Pillow have filed a Complaint alleging a range of claims against 30 defendants. On October 1, 2026, Plaintiffs filed an Emergency Motion for a Temporary Restraining Order (“TRO”) and Writ of Mandamus. In the Motion, Plaintiffs request an Order that would, among another things: (1) require Defendant the Social Security Administration (“SSA”) to reinstate various benefits; (2) enjoin Defendants Carvana, Co. (“Carvana”) and Bridgecrest Credit Company, LLC (“Bridgecrest”) from selling a vehicle and require the return of that vehicle to Plaintiffs; (3) enjoin Defendants Andrews Ridge Apartments and Yardi Systems, Inc. from instituting or continuing with eviction proceedings against Plaintiffs; (4) enjoin Defendants Pepco and Verizon Communications, Inc. from terminating any of Plaintiffs’ communication services; (5) enjoin all Defendants from conducting electronic surveillance on Plaintiffs; and (6) require various Defendants to turn over records in their possession relating to Plaintiffs. To obtain a TRO or a preliminary injunction, moving parties must establish that (1) they are likely to succeed on the merits; (2) they are likely to suffer irreparable harm in the absence of preliminary relief; (3) the balance of equities tips in their favor; and (4) an injunction is in the public interest. Winter v. Nat. Res. Def. Council, Inc., 555 U.S. 7, 20 (2008); see Dewhurst v. Century Aluminum Co., 649 F.3d 287, 290 (4th Cir. 2011). A moving party must satisfy each requirement as articulated. Pashby v. Delia, 709 F.3d 307, 320–21 (4th Cir. 2013). Because a TRO or a preliminary injunction is “an extraordinary remedy,” it “may only be awarded upon a clear showing that the plaintiff is entitled to such relief.” Winter, 555 U.S. at 22. The Motion fails for several reasons. First, Plaintiffs have not demonstrated a likelihood of success on the merits. Although Plaintiffs allege a range of claims, they have not meaningfully argued, and have not provided any specific evidence demonstrating, that they are likely to succeed on those claims. For example, Plaintiffs have not provided any evidence that the SSA has unlawfully withheld benefits, and while Plaintiffs generally allege that Defendants have surveilled them, hacked their electronic devices, and tampered with their stored electronic files, they have provided no evidence to support these claims. Likewise, Plaintiffs claim that Carvana and Bridgecrest have unlawfully taken their car and that various Defendants have worked in concert to illegally evict Plaintiffs but have provided no evidence demonstrating that these Defendants both took these actions and did so without lawful authority. Second, Plaintiffs have not shown a likelihood of irreparable harm. For example, as to their claims about Social Security benefits, the alleged harm is financial, which ordinarily can be remedied by a later judgment. Likewise, as for their claims which seek to force Defendants to turn over electronic records, Plaintiffs have not shown how they will be irreparably harmed in the absence of such action. Third, at this early stage, where Plaintiffs are seeking an ex parte injunction against Defendants who have not yet been served, the public interest weighs against granting an injunction before Defendants have had an opportunity to respond. Where Plaintiffs have not established all four required elements, the Motion for a TRO will be denied. Finally, to the extent that the request for a writ of mandamus could be construed as advancing a different basis for preliminary relief, a United States district court may issue such a writ only as to an officer or employee of the United States or a federal agency, 28 U.S.C. § 1361, so such relief is unavailable as to Defendants other than the SSA, all of which are private parties. As to the SSA, for the reasons stated above, in the absence of a showing of likely success on the merits, the Court will not issue such a writ at this early stage. For the foregoing reasons, it is hereby ORDERED that Plaintiffs’ Motion for a Temporary Restraining Order and Writ of Mandamus, ECF No. 3, is DENIED. Date: October 9, 2026 /s/ THEODORE D. CHUANG United States District Judge
Sources
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