What is a court order that requires someone to do or refrain from doing something?

An injunction is a legal order issued by a court that requires an individual or entity to either do a specific act or refrain from doing a particular act. It is often utilized to prevent harm or to maintain the status quo in legal disputes. For instance, an injunction may be granted to stop a company from continuing practices that could cause environmental damage or to prevent one party from breaching a contract.

Injunctions serve critical roles in various legal contexts, including family law, contract disputes, and property disputes. They are particularly valuable because they can provide immediate relief and help prevent irreparable harm to a party while the case is still being resolved.

Other legal terms mentioned may relate to court proceedings but serve different purposes. A summons notifies a person to appear in court; a subpoena commands an individual to testify or produce evidence; and a writ is a formal written order from a court but can refer to various types of orders depending on the jurisdiction. Thus, while each of these terms has its significance in the legal system, they do not specifically denote a requirement for someone to perform or abstain from specific actions as an injunction does.