What does an injunction compel an individual to do?

An injunction is a legal order issued by a court that directs an individual or entity to perform a specific act or to refrain from performing a certain action. This type of remedy aims to prevent harm or to maintain the status quo until a legal dispute can be resolved.

The correct answer highlights that the essence of an injunction is its command regarding specific behaviors—either requiring an individual to take a particular action or to stop doing something that may cause harm or impact another party's rights. For example, a court may issue an injunction to prevent a company from constructing a building that would violate zoning laws, thus compelling it to refrain from that act.

The other choices do not accurately reflect the nature of an injunction. While taking legal action, negotiating, and paying damages are all aspects of legal processes, they do not directly define the function of an injunction which is fundamentally about compelling or restraining specific conduct.