What does an injunction do?

An injunction is fundamentally a court order that directs a party to either perform a specific act or to abstain from taking particular actions. This means that the court is either compelling a party to take steps necessary to achieve a certain outcome or preventing them from continuing harmful conduct. Injunctions are typically sought in situations where there is an imminent risk of harm that cannot be adequately addressed through financial compensation alone.

For example, if a property owner is inflicting damage on a neighbor's land, the affected neighbor may seek an injunction to stop the damaging action rather than just claiming damages after the fact. The significance of an injunction lies in its preventive capacity, ensuring that potentially harmful conduct is halted before it can cause irreparable harm.

This understanding distinguishes it from other terms. Compensation pertains specifically to monetary reparations for damages, which is not the function of an injunction. The process of appealing a court decision refers to challenging a ruling in a higher court, and assessing monetary penalties involves financial punishment instead of directing specific actions or inactions. Thus, the defining characteristic of an injunction is its role as a directive from the court regarding behavior, making it a crucial tool in legal disputes involving urgent or ongoing issues.