Equity

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Equity, in a legal context, refers to a system of jurisprudence that focuses on fairness and justice as opposed to strict adherence to the law. Courts of equity can order remedies that are not available in courts of law, such as specific performance or injunctions.
The plaintiff filed a lawsuit in equity court seeking an injunction to prevent the demolition of a historic building.

While not a specific case, courts of equity have played a major role in legal history by providing more flexible remedies than courts of law.

Frequently Asked Questions

Courts of law typically focus on awarding damages as a remedy for legal wrongs, while courts of equity can order more flexible remedies such as injunctions or specific performance.

In many jurisdictions, the distinction between law and equity has been merged into a single court system. However, the principles of equity are still applied by judges when considering remedies for legal issues.

Equity allows judges to fashion creative solutions to problems that may not have an adequate remedy under the common law.

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