A court-issued command that cuts off certain future claims or lawsuits, usually so a settlement can go forward without later being undone by side disputes.

Most often, a bar order appears in a class action, mass tort, or other multi-party case when one group agrees to settle and wants finality. For example, after a crash, toxic exposure, or product defect case, a settling defendant may ask the judge to block other parties from later bringing contribution or indemnity claims over the same harm. That can speed payment and bring closure, but it can also permanently wipe out rights if no one objects in time. Once entered, a bar order may prevent another defendant, insurer, or claimant from shifting blame or recovering part of what they paid.

For injured people, the danger is timing. A proposed settlement may look like money is finally on the way, yet the fine print can affect who can still be sued, who can seek reimbursement, and whether related claims survive. In a New Mexico case tied to a highway wreck or oil-field traffic on US-285 near Carlsbad, that matters because there may be several defendants and limited insurance; New Mexico's minimum auto liability coverage is only 25/50/10, and the $10,000 property-damage minimum can be exhausted fast. If a bar order is requested, missing the objection deadline can mean losing leverage or losing a claim outright.