Equity

I. Cases in Equity; Equitable Relief

Cases in equity are  different from cases in “law” or “common law.”

As a general rule, common law cases, or cases in law, are lawsuits where a plaintiff asks for money damages from the defendant.

On the other hand, cases in equity are cases where a plaintiff seeks injunctive relief – – an order from the court requiring a defendant to do something or to refrain from doing something. For example, if a plaintiff asks a judge to prohibit a defendant from disclosing information in a newspaper article, that would be a case in equity seeking injunctive relief.

Under the Seventh Amendment to the United States Constitution, there is no right to a jury trial for a case in equity.

II. Value of a company’s shares

Equity can also refer to a person’s ownership interest in property or a business entity. A person who has equity in a company owns all or part of the company.