Legal Definitions - obstrict

To obstrict means to compel or force someone to act in a particular way, or to prevent them from acting as they wish, often through the use of pressure, threats, or other forms of influence. This compulsion can be direct and overt, or it can be more subtle, relying on the fear of potential negative consequences rather than immediate physical force.

Here are some examples to illustrate the concept of obstricting:

• Imagine a situation where a major retailer informs a small, independent clothing designer that if they do not agree to sell their new collection at a drastically reduced price, the retailer will refuse to carry any of the designer's products in the future. The designer, heavily reliant on the retailer's distribution, feels pressured to accept the unfavorable terms.

  This illustrates obstructing because the retailer is using its significant market power and the threat of future exclusion to coerce the designer into an agreement that is not truly voluntary or mutually beneficial.

• Consider an employee who is told by their supervisor that while working extra hours on a weekend is technically voluntary, declining to do so will be noted in their performance review and could negatively impact their chances for an upcoming promotion.

  Here, the supervisor is obstructing the employee. Although no direct order is given, the implied threat of professional repercussions creates a coercive environment, making the "voluntary" choice feel mandatory.

• A neighborhood association is seeking approval from the city council for a new community garden project. A powerful local developer, who owns land adjacent to the proposed garden, publicly states that if the association does not agree to certain concessions that benefit his future development plans, he will use his influence to ensure the garden project never receives city approval.

  This is an example of obstructing because the developer is leveraging his political and economic influence to pressure the neighborhood association into making decisions that serve his interests, rather than allowing the project to be evaluated solely on its merits.