Abatement is generally the temporary or permanent halting of a process (a lawsuit) or a situation (a nuisance).
In North Carolina, abatement can refer to different legal contexts. In the context of a lawsuit, abatement means the suspension or cessation of the proceedings. This can occur for various reasons, such as the death of a party, a defect in the legal action, or the existence of a prior action pending between the same parties for the same cause. In terms of a nuisance, abatement refers to the removal or cessation of a nuisance. North Carolina law allows for the abatement of a nuisance, which can be something that causes harm to health, or obstructs the reasonable and comfortable use of property. The abatement of a nuisance can be achieved through a court order or, in some cases, through self-help remedies, provided they are carried out without trespass or unnecessary damage.