What is the primary purpose of an injunction in legal terms?

The primary purpose of an injunction is to serve as a court order that requires a party to stop engaging in certain actions or to refrain from doing something that would cause harm or violate legal rights. Injunctions are considered equitable remedies, meaning they are designed to address situations where monetary damages would not be an adequate solution. For instance, if a person is engaging in behavior that harms another's property or rights, an injunction can be issued to prevent further harm.

Injunctions can be temporary or permanent and can be applied in various contexts, such as preventing the sale of a disputed property, stopping a company from infringing on intellectual property, or halting activities that pose a public nuisance. The ability of the court to issue such orders highlights the judiciary's role in maintaining fairness and justice in legal disputes.

This understanding of injunctions clarifies why the other options do not accurately capture their primary purpose. A financial penalty would involve compensatory measures rather than a preventive order, a statement of legal rights does not provide immediate relief or action, and judicial review pertains to the evaluation of administrative actions rather than direct intervention to compel or prevent behavior.