Abatement is generally the temporary or permanent halting of a process (a lawsuit) or a situation (a nuisance).
In Delaware, abatement can refer to different legal contexts. In the context of a lawsuit, abatement means the suspension or cessation of judicial proceedings. This can occur for various reasons, such as the death of a party, a lack of jurisdiction, or the resolution of the matter before a verdict is reached. In terms of a nuisance, abatement refers to the cessation or removal of a nuisance. Delaware law allows for the abatement of nuisances that affect public health or safety, such as environmental hazards or property conditions that violate local ordinances. The process for abatement of a nuisance typically involves a complaint to local authorities, who may then take action to require the responsible party to remedy the situation. If the responsible party fails to comply, the authorities may undertake the abatement themselves and potentially seek to recover the costs from the party at fault.