Eminent Domain Condemnation Proceedings

Programs that represent a federal, state or local government entity or its agent in the exercise of its right to appropriate private property within the jurisdiction for public use with due monetary compensation, but without the owner's consent. The term "condemnation proceedings" is used to describe the formal act of the exercise of the power of eminent domain to transfer title to the property from its private owner to the government. The property is taken either for government use or by delegation to third parties who will devote it to public or civic use or, in some cases, to economic development. The most common uses of property taken by eminent domain are for public utilities, highways and railroads; however it may also be used for other purposes such as mitigation of a blighted area, remediation of an environmentally contaminated area, reduction of abandoned property, or removal of a public nuisance. Some jurisdictions require that the government body offer to purchase the property before resorting to the use of eminent domain.