Simple English definitions for legal terms
Read a random definition: Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Law
Alternative relief is a type of help that someone asks for in court. It is different from other types of help that they could ask for, and they can only get one type of help. For example, someone might ask for either money or for someone to do something specific, but they can't get both. Alternative relief can also mean help that is given to people who need it, like money from the government.
Alternative relief is a type of judicial relief that is mutually exclusive with another form of judicial relief. This means that a party can request alternative relief, such as asking for both specific performance and damages that would be averted by specific performance.
For example, in a legal case, a plaintiff may ask for either specific performance (forcing the defendant to fulfill a contract) or damages (monetary compensation for breach of contract). However, if the plaintiff requests alternative relief, they can ask for both specific performance and damages.
Another example of alternative relief is when a defendant raises a counterclaim or cross-claim that could have been maintained independently of the plaintiff's action. This is called affirmative relief.
Overall, alternative relief allows parties to request multiple forms of relief in a legal case, giving them more options for resolving their dispute.