Also known as: remedies at law · legal remedy · legal remedies · common-law remedy
Written by attorneys · grounded in primary & secondary sources — see below
A form of judicial relief consisting primarily of an award of money damages to compensate a party for loss or injury. Courts traditionally award this relief when no other form of redress will restore the injured party to its rightful position.
Riley Rivera paid a nonlawyer to prepare divorce papers and explain available compensation for marital assets. The nonlawyer described how a court would calculate and award money to equalize property division. Riley later challenged the advice as unauthorized practice because it addressed the remedy at law.
Rebecca Ross sued corporate officers for self-dealing that depleted company funds. She sought money damages on behalf of the corporation after the board refused to act. The court treated the damages request as a legal issue triable to a jury once standing was resolved.
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Ruby Rivera alleged federal agents conducted an unlawful search that damaged her property. She filed suit seeking money damages to redress the constitutional violation. The court considered whether a damages award supplied an adequate remedy at law for the alleged injury.
Ralph Richardson faced state criminal charges and asked a federal court to halt the proceeding. The court declined because Ralph possessed an adequate remedy at law through his state trial and appeal rights. Money damages or other post-conviction relief remained available if the prosecution proved wrongful.
Rita Russell asserted a claim against an estate for unpaid fees arising from prior services. She requested a money judgment rather than an order compelling transfer of specific assets. The court examined whether the probate exception barred the damages action despite the presence of a remedy at law.
Rhea Reynolds sought an order compelling delivery of a judicial commission she claimed was wrongfully withheld. The court noted that a writ of mandamus would issue only if no adequate remedy at law existed. Because a damages action could compensate for the loss, the equitable writ was unavailable.
A remedy at law is inadequate when the subject matter of the contract is unique, such as land or a specialized good that cannot be replaced on the market. In those situations courts may grant specific performance instead of money damages.
No. Equitable relief remains available when damages cannot fully compensate the plaintiff because the loss involves unique property or ongoing obligations that are difficult to value. Courts assess adequacy on the facts of each case.
Claims seeking only money damages are typically legal and carry a right to jury trial. When equitable issues predominate or must be decided first, the court may resolve those issues without a jury before any legal claim proceeds to trial.
A court may award both forms of relief when each addresses a distinct aspect of the injury, but the plaintiff must still show that damages alone are inadequate for the equitable portion of the claim.
…by the principles and usages of law.' It is a general principle that a mandamus lies if there be no other adequate, specific, legal remedy. The writ is of extensive remedial nature and issues where the party has a right to have anything done and no other specific means of compelling its performance. Many English cases…