When they indicated their intention to march anyway, Birmingham obtained an injunction from a state court which ordered them to refrain from demonstrating. Marchers who defied the order, including Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., were arrested. The Court upheld the arrests since the marchers failed to use proper judicial procedures to test the injunction's validity. Even though, Justice Stewart admitted, the injunction seemed broad and vague, and the marchers may not have enjoyed due process when applying for the permit originally, simply disobeying the injunction was not permitted. The general rule is that an injunction that has been duly issued and served must be obeyed, no matter how erroneous it may be.
Applicants have no adequate remedy at law.
The U.S. Supreme Court has held that a party injured by the issuance of an injunction later determined to be erroneous has no action for damages in the absence of a bond. State statutes may create express exceptions to the requirement that a bond be posted. See, e.g., Cal. Rick Barry signed a contract to play basketball for the Oakland Oaks. The Oaks were acquired by the Washington Capitols.