Abatement is generally the temporary or permanent halting of a process (a lawsuit) or a situation (a nuisance).
In Rhode Island, 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 lack of jurisdiction, or the case becoming moot. In terms of a nuisance, abatement refers to the removal or cessation of a nuisance, which is an action or condition that interferes with the use and enjoyment of property. Rhode Island law allows for the abatement of nuisances through court orders, and in some cases, municipalities may have ordinances that provide for the abatement of certain conditions deemed to be nuisances, such as noise, pollution, or unsafe buildings. The specific procedures and remedies for abatement will depend on the nature of the nuisance or the reason for the lawsuit's suspension.