Abatement is generally the temporary or permanent halting of a process (a lawsuit) or a situation (a nuisance).
In Minnesota, abatement refers to the legal process of stopping or lessening a problem or nuisance. When it comes to lawsuits, abatement can mean the suspension or termination of legal proceedings. For example, if a party to a lawsuit passes away, becomes bankrupt, or if the issue at hand has been resolved outside of court, the case may be abated. In the context of a nuisance, abatement involves actions taken to cease or mitigate a situation that is harmful or bothersome to others, such as noise, pollution, or public health hazards. Minnesota statutes and local ordinances provide specific procedures for how nuisances can be abated, which often involve notifying the responsible party and giving them an opportunity to address the issue before further legal action is taken.