Legal Definitions - condemnation action

A condemnation action is a legal process where a government takes private property for public use. This is done through the power of eminent domain, which allows the government to take property as long as they provide fair compensation to the owner.

For example, if a city wants to build a new highway, they may need to take land from private property owners. The city would file a condemnation action to take the land and compensate the owners for the value of the property.

Another example could be a government taking land to build a new school or park. In these cases, the government would need to compensate the property owner for the value of the land and any improvements on it.

The purpose of a condemnation action is to ensure that the government can acquire the property they need for public use while also protecting the rights of private property owners.