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injunctive relief

Injunctive relief is a legal alternative to monetary damages in a civil suit.

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It involves a court ordering a party to take an affirmative action or restraining a party from taking a particular action. For example, assume an individual owns a home surrounded by 100-year-old trees and his neighbor intends to cut down the trees, alleging that they are on her property. While this dispute is pending, a court may issue an injunction prohibiting the neighbor from cutting down the trees until the matter is heard and resolved. Injunctions have also been sought to protect trade secrets and to safeguard a person's reputation. This measure is the appropriate remedy in any situation in which, if the defendant is not ordered to cease performing an action, the plaintiff will be unable to be properly compensated. Liability insurance policies typically provide coverage only for "damages," not for injunctive relief.

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