so basically what happened on friday with kesha is that a motion for a preliminary injunction was denied. the trial as such hasn’t even started yet.

kesha’s case against dr luke is a hybrid of torts and contracts claims, and it’s a case in equity rather than in law. what that means is that she doesn’t want money damages (which would be a case in law), she wants a thing to happen (in cases in equity this is essentially called specific performance). she wants to be released from her contract. if she’s asking for money damages i haven’t read anything about it.

so when suits like this are brought, when the plaintiff wants the defendant to either do or not do something, a preliminary hearing for the injunction is held basically so a judge (no jury yet) can assess whether it’s in the ~*~interests of justice~*~ for a temporary version of what the plaintiff is asking for to be put into place before the court (either judge or jury) hears all the evidence at trial.

kesha’s lawyer moved for a preliminary injunction in the form of a temporary release from her contract, so that she can produce music without dr luke while the trial is pending (because who the fuck knows how long the trial is going to take). this was denied. this doesn’t necessarily mean she’s locked into the contract forever, because the trial on whether or not she should be released hasn’t happened yet. but it does mean that, until a verdict is handed down on that issue, the contract stands as valid.