What is a preliminary injunction?

A preliminary injunction is a temporary court order that seeks to maintain the status quo or prevent irreparable harm to a party while a legal case is ongoing. Its primary purpose is to effectively halt specific actions by a party until the court can make a final decision regarding the matter at hand. This is crucial in legal disputes where the potential harm of allowing a party to proceed with their actions could be significant and unjustifiable, thereby necessitating immediate intervention by the court.

The issuance of a preliminary injunction typically requires the requesting party to demonstrate a likelihood of success on the merits of the case, as well as a risk of irreparable injury if the injunction is not granted. This underscores the importance of the temporary nature of the injunction, as it is not a conclusive determination of the rights of the parties, but rather a protective measure during the litigation process.

Other options do not accurately capture the essence of a preliminary injunction. The option that describes it as a permanent ban would imply a final resolution, rather than a temporary measure. A request for evidence before trial pertains to discovery, which is not related to injunctions. A settlement agreement is a negotiated resolution that concludes litigation, rather than an interim court order that preserves the current situation. Therefore, defining a preliminary injunction