Violation of a court order or violation of a legal provision – what is the expected punishment?

Violation of a court order or violation of a legal provision is a situation in which a person violates, consciously or unconsciously, a judicial decision. Such a violation may have various consequences, and in some cases the party will suffer a financial penalty and in other cases will suffer no penalty at all. In cases of violation of a court decision that has caused you significant damage, it is advisable to consult a lawyer as soon as possible.

Violation of a legal provision – on the criminal level

Violation of a legal provision is a criminal offense that can even result in prison sentences. Section 287 of the Penal Code states:

Violation of a legal provision

(a) Whoever violates an order duly given by a court or by an official or person acting in an official capacity and authorized for the same matter, is liable to imprisonment for two years.

(b) Whoever violates a provision of an order issued by a court for the purpose of protecting the life, body or safety of another person from the violator is liable to imprisonment for four years.

This section is a prime example of how not every section in the law book is enforced. In practice, violating a court order is a reality that happens every day, and yet we don't see people being thrown into prison for these violations, certainly not for prison terms of several years.

also Israel Police Guidelines Determine that a criminal investigation should not be initiated for violation of Section 287 Penal Code:

To open a criminal investigation for a violation of the law, according to Section 287, as a condition of the violation and the violation of the law, as a condition of the enforcement of the order under Section 6, or as a condition of the execution of the order in the court after the violation.

Violation of a court order – on the civil level

Violation of a court order in a civil matter may lead to monetary compensation or a demand to determine that the violating party has contempt of court. For this purpose, the provisions of the Contempt of Court Ordinance can be used. This is a very short ordinance that states as follows:

1. This ordinance shall be called the Contempt of Court Ordinance.

2. בפקודה זו יהא למונח "בית משפט" הפירוש דלקמן מלבד אם ענין הכתוב יחייב פירוש אחר – "בית משפט" פירושו כל בית משפט אזרחי, לרבות בית משפט עירוני ובית משפט לקרקעות.

5. סרב עד להחקר עפ"י החוק או להשיב על אותן שאלות שהוצגו לפניו כחוק, ולא הראה כל טעם צודק לסרובו, יכול בית המשפט לתתו מיד במאסר למועד שלא יעלה על חדש אחד, חוץ אם הסכים בינתים, לפני סיום המשפט, להחקר ולהשיב על שאלות.

6.

(1) בית המשפט העליון, בית המשפט לפשעים חמורים, בית משפט מיוחד שנתכונן עפ"י סעיף 55 של דבר המלך במועצה על ארץ ישראל, 1922, בית המשפט המחוזי, בית-המשפט לקרקעות ובית-משפט השלום, תהא להם הסמכות לכוף אדם בקנס או במאסר לציית לכל צו שניתן על ידם והמצוה לעשות איזה מעשה או האוסר לעשות כל מעשה.

(2) No order imposing a fine or imprisonment shall be issued unless the offender has been summoned to appear and has complied with the summons, or, if he does not appear of his own accord, has been brought before the court on a warrant of arrest to show cause why such an order should not be issued against him.

(3) If a court imposes imprisonment under subsection (1), it shall notify the Attorney General thereof.

(4) The Attorney General or his representative shall bring the case of a prisoner under subsection (1) before the court that imposed the imprisonment on him, for further consideration, when he deems it necessary and not less than once every six months from the date of commencement of the imprisonment.

(5) In the additional consideration, the court may, after giving the prisoner and any other party in the proceedings in which the imprisonment was imposed an opportunity to present their arguments, uphold the order, change it, make it subject to conditions or revoke it, or issue any other order it deems appropriate.

(6) The Minister of Justice may determine by regulations procedures for additional consideration under this section.

7.

(1) If a person is accused of desertion and cannot be found within the jurisdiction of any court in Israel, the court may issue an order imposing a fine or imprisonment to the extent it deems just, or may order that a writ of attachment be issued to his property, and that writ of attachment shall encumber his real estate in the same manner and at the same rate in all respects as a writ of attachment in civil law.

(2) כתב ירידה לנכסים יהא ערוך אל שני אנשים או אל יותר משנים שיתמנו לכך ע"י בית המשפט, ובו יצטוו ויורשו לרדת לכל נכסי המקרקעים של האדם שניתן נגדו הכתב, ולגבות וליטול ולקבל לרשותם לא רק את דמי השכירות והרוחים של מקרקעיו האסורים, אלא גם את סחורותיו, כליו ומטלטליו ולעכבם ולהחזיקם בידם בתורת עיקול, עד שיופיע לפני בית המשפט ויסיר מעליו את אשמת הבזיון, או עד שבית המשפט יצוה אחרת: יכול בית המשפט לצוות לשלם מתוך ההכנסות המתקבלות מאותם הנכסים שירדו אליהם, את כל ההוצאות הכרוכות בהוצאה לפועל של הירידה לנכסים לרבות אותו השכר ההוגן לאנשים שנתמנו להוציא לפועל את הירידה לנכסים, ככל אשר ימצא בית המשפט לנכון לפסוק.

(3) In any trial against a person on the face, the court before which the matter is being tried shall make such order as it deems proper with respect to the payment of the expenses incurred thereby.

8.

(1) צו המטיל ענש שניתן ע"י בית משפט מחוזי או בית משפט לקרקעות או בית-משפט שלום עפ"י סעיף 6 יהא ניתן לערעור באותם התנאים הנוהגים בערעור על פסק דין פלילי המטיל עונש כיוצא בזה.

(2) בהתחשב עם הוראות סעיף 3(2), אין לערער על כל צו המטיל ענש שניתן ע"י כל בית משפט עפ"י סעיף 3(1).

9. ההוראות דלעיל שבפקודה זו תחולנה על כל פעולה משפטית של פקיד מסדר בברור תביעות עפ"י פקודת הקרקעות (קביעת זכות הקנין), כאילו היה אותו פקיד בחזקת בית משפט וכאילו היה העונש שהוטל ע"י פקיד מסדר עונש שהוטל ע"י שופט שלום.

As can be seen, according to Section 6 of the Ordinance, violating a court order may lead to a sanction in the form of a fine or imprisonment. However, similar to the criminal sphere, even when violating a court order, there is no rush to take legal action. Contempt of Court Order. בעניין זה בית המשפט המחוזי קבע בין היתר כך (ת"צ 16323-03-15 דוד כהן נ' בנק יהב לעובדי המדינה, החלטה מיום 3.10.2022):

Proceedings under the Contempt of Court Ordinance are a unique procedure that should not be resorted to when there is a direct way to enforce the judgment, such as through execution. ההליך אינו מתאים למקרים שבהם קיימת מחלוקת פרשנית בתום לב באשר להוראות ההחלטה השיפוטית, שאז ראוי לברר אותה באמצעות תובענה אזרחית (בג"ץ 4036/21 Estate יחיאל רדיע ז"ל יורשותיו בתו קרן ואח נ' שלומית שיחור ריכמן רשמת האגודות השיתופיות פסקה 5 (06.09.2022)‏‏; ע"פ 6981/13 יקבי ירושלים אגודה חקלאית שיתופית בע"מ נ' אנטיפוד השקעות בע"מ פסקה 11 (9.12.2013)). However, where the dispute is fictitious, or where it arises from a position lacking Good faith of one of the parties – sanctions will be applied by virtue of a contempt of court order  (רע"א 1932/18 מוגדאם מוסא נמבר נ' ג'ק רושל פסקה 8 (29.3.2018)).

What to do after violating a court order?

Violation of a restraining order or Order to prevent threatening harassment

Violating a court order in these matters may lead to violence against the person for whose benefit the order was issued. In these cases, immediately contact the Israel Police and provide evidence that the order was indeed violated (video footage, witnesses, correspondence, recordings of conversations, etc.).

Without references, it may be difficult to prove that a court order was indeed violated.

Violation of an order in civil or financial claims

Within the framework of all Civil lawsuit, Financial claim, Class action lawsuit, Tort claim etc., the courts may issue various orders. Some of the orders are of great importance and urgency and some of the orders are of very low importance. For example: The court may issue Order made which states that a business owner must repair a certain product within a few days. If the order is violated, in most cases the damage that will be caused is not particularly serious and there may be no justification for immediately going to court again. In these cases, it is worth contacting the violating party and checking why the court order is not being complied with. In some cases, it will turn out to be an innocent mistake and a preliminary appeal, before going back to court, may resolve the dispute.

On the other hand, violating a court order dealing with the provisions injunction The prohibition against demolishing a house can be devastating, so in such cases there is no reason to contact the opposing party who is about to demolish the house, but rather to urgently go to court.

In conclusion

Various legal provisions establish various sanctions for violating a court order or violating a legal provision, including sanctions related to imprisonment, but in practice the courts are not quick to take these sanctions against people who violate court orders and attempt to use other, less stringent legal tools.

Violation of a court order in a matter of low monetary value or low urgency generally does not warrant immediate action in court. In these cases, it is worth considering prior action against the violating party in order to ascertain why the provisions of the order are being violated.

On the other hand, violating a court order on a matter of high financial value or urgency justifies immediate recourse to the court in order to obtain an appropriate judicial decision.

Frequently Asked Questions Regarding Violation of a Court Order or Violation of a Legal Instruction