Adequate Remedy at Law

Sufficient compensation by way of monetary damages.

Courts will not grant equitable remedies, such as SPECIFIC PERFORMANCE or injunctions, where monetary damages can afford complete legal relief. An equitable remedy interferes much more with the defendant's freedom of action than an order directing the defendant to pay for the harm he or she has caused, and it is much more difficult for a court to supervise and enforce judgments giving some relief other than money. Courts, therefore, will compensate an injured party whenever possible with monetary damages; this remedy has been called the remedy at law since the days when courts of EQUITY and courts at law were different.