Legal Definitions - court of law

A court of law is a legal institution that has the power to grant monetary damages as well as other remedies such as injunctions, writs, or specific performance. In the past, courts of law were distinguished from courts of equity, which could only grant non-monetary remedies. However, this distinction has largely been dissolved in modern times.

• A person sues their neighbor for damages caused by a fallen tree. The court of law has the power to award monetary damages to the person if they win the case.
• A company seeks an injunction to prevent a former employee from sharing confidentialinformation. The court of law has the power to grant the injunction if it is deemed necessary.

These examples illustrate how a court of law can grant both monetary and non-monetary remedies depending on the circumstances of the case. In the first example, the court can award monetary damages to compensate the person for their losses. In the second example, the court can issue an injunction to prevent further harm from occurring.