Legal Definitions - condemnation money

Definition:Condemnation money refers to the compensation paid by an expropriator of land to the landowner for taking the property. It can also refer to damages that a losing party in a lawsuit is condemned to pay.

Example 1: A government agency wants to build a new highway and needs to acquire land from several property owners. The agency offers to pay each landowner condemnation money as compensation for taking their property.

Example 2: In a lawsuit, the judge rules in favor of the plaintiff and orders the defendant to pay condemnation money as damages for their wrongdoing.

Both examples illustrate the concept of condemnation money, which involves compensating someone for the loss of their property or for damages incurred. In the first example, the landowner is compensated for the government's acquisition of their land. In the second example, the losing party is ordered to pay condemnation money as a form of punishment for their actions.