Legal Definitions - condemnee

A condemnee is an individual or entity whose private property is legally acquired by a government body or a private company with government-granted authority (such as a utility company) for public use. This process, known as eminent domain, allows the property to be taken, even if the owner does not wish to sell, in exchange for fair market compensation.

• Example 1: The city council approves a plan to build a new public park, and the designated area includes a privately owned residential house. The homeowner, who prefers to stay in their home, is informed that the city intends to acquire their property through eminent domain.

  Explanation: In this situation, the homeowner becomes a condemnee because their property is being taken by the city for a public park, despite their initial reluctance to sell.

• Example 2: A state transportation department decides to expand a major highway to alleviate traffic congestion. The expansion requires acquiring strips of land from several businesses located along the existing road, including a small family-owned restaurant.

  Explanation: The owner of the restaurant is a condemnee because a portion of their commercial property is being acquired by the state for the public purpose of highway expansion.

• Example 3: A regional water authority plans to construct a new pipeline to improve water supply to a growing community. The proposed route for the pipeline crosses several privately owned farms, requiring the authority to obtain easements (rights to use a portion of the land) from the landowners.

  Explanation: Each farmer whose land is subject to the water authority's acquisition of an easement for the public water pipeline becomes a condemnee.