A legal alternative to monetary damages in a civil suit. 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.