Injunctive Relief

What Is Injunctive Relief?
Injunctive relief is a court-ordered legal remedy that requires a party to either do something or refrain from doing something. Rather than seeking monetary compensation, the goal of injunctive relief is to prevent harm or enforce compliance with legal duties.

Types of Injunctive Relief
There are three common types of injunctive relief:

• Preliminary Injunction: Issued at the beginning of a lawsuit to prevent actions that could cause irreparable harm before the case is decided.
• Temporary Restraining Order (TRO): A short-term emergency injunction that preserves the status quo until a more formal hearing can take place.
• Permanent Injunction: Issued as part of a final court ruling, requiring the party to permanently act or refrain from specific conduct.

When Is Injunctive Relief Used?
Injunctive relief is typically sought when monetary damages are insufficient to resolve a legal dispute. Common workplace-related examples include:

• Enforcing non-compete or confidentiality agreements
• Preventing intellectual property theft
• Halting discrimination or harassment in employment settings

To obtain an injunction, the requesting party must demonstrate:

• A likelihood of success in the underlying case
• Irreparable harm if the injunction is not granted
• That the benefits of the injunction outweigh the potential harm to the opposing party
• That public interest supports the injunction

Injunctive Relief in Employment Law
Employers often seek injunctive relief to stop former employees from violating non-compete clauses or disclosing trade secrets. Employees might seek injunctions to stop unfair labor practices or workplace retaliation. Injunctive relief plays a critical role in maintaining legal protections and business integrity.