An injunction is a court order that requires a person or entity to either do a specific act or to stop doing a specific act. It is an equitable remedy used by courts to prevent harm or injustice when monetary damages are insufficient
Types of Injunctions
- Prohibitory Injunction: Orders a party to refrain from doing something.
- Mandatory Injunction: Orders a party to perform a specific act
- Temporary Injunctions: Include temporary restraining orders and preliminary (or interim) injunctions, issued early in a case to maintain the status quo and prevent irreparable harm until a final decision is made
- Permanent Injunctions: Issued as a final judgment to prevent future harm permanently or for a specified time after a case concludes
Purpose and Use
Injunctions are typically used to:
- Prevent ongoing or imminent harm that cannot be adequately remedied by money.
- Preserve the status quo during litigation.
- Protect assets, personal safety, reputation, or business interests
Legal Effect and Enforcement
Failure to comply with an injunction can lead to contempt of court, which may result in civil or criminal penalties
Summary
Injunctions are powerful legal tools that compel or restrain actions to prevent harm, maintain fairness, and uphold legal rights when other remedies like monetary damages are inadequate
