Condemn
1. To blame for something. A court finding someone guilty of a crime is sometimes said to condemn that person.
2. To declare that specified private property will be taken for public use. See Eminent domain.
3. To find that something is not fit for use. A house in poor condition may be condemned as unfit for habitation. Contaminated food may be condemned as unfit for consumption.
Definition from Nolo’s Plain-English Law Dictionary
1) When a public agency determines that a building is unsafe or unfit for habitation and must be torn down or rebuilt to meet building and health code requirements. 2) When a governmental agency takes private property for public use under the right of eminent domain, but constitutionally the property owner must receive just compensation. If an agreement cannot be reached then the owner is entitled to a court determination of value in a condemnation action (lawsuit), but the public body can take the property immediately upon deposit of the estimated value. 3) To sentence a convicted defendant to death. 4) Send to prison.
Definition provided by Nolo’s Plain-English Law Dictionary.
August 19, 2010, 5:13 pm
