What is bribery?

Under most state criminal codes, bribery is a crime involving the corruption of public officials. Anyone who gives a public servant money or other valuables in exchange for services in a specified way or any public servant who accepts money or other valuables to act in a specified way is guilty of bribery.

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What types of damages are there?

Damages are divided into a number of categories upon which the recovery may be based, such as: compensatory damages, general damages, special damages, future damages, incidental damages, and punitive damages.

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How Will You Know If Your Property Is Condemned?

If your property has been condemned, you will be notified in writing by a government agency. In some instances, you may also be served with a summons and complaint. If you do receive such a notice, it is important to understand that it doesn’t mean the property is being condemned because it is worthless or has deteriorated and is not up to code. Rather, the government needs the land for public use. Public uses for which land is condemned may include, among other uses, the construction of airports, schools, roads, parks, railroads, housing projects, and/or other public buildings.

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How Can You Keep the Government from Condemning Your Property?

In order to resist the condemnation of your property, you will need to argue your case at a hearing and present convincing evidence. There are two different grounds on which you can resist the condemnation. First, you can argue that the taking of your property is not necessary. Second, you can argue that the monetary offer that was made to you is not ‘just compensation’ for the property. In either case, you will need to have clear evidence to support your claim that your property should not be condemned, and to get the court to agree with you.

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Can a single, straight person adopt?

Whether or not a single parent adoption is possible will vary depending on the laws of the state. Your chance of success may also be different based on whether you want to arrange a public or private adoption, and on whether you want to adopt an infant or an older child, such as a foster child. In general, however, while it may be more difficult for a single person to adopt, it is becoming more readily acceptable for this to occur.

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What Is Condemnation?

Condemnation occurs when a local, state, or federal government seizes private property and compensates the owner. The power of the government to do this is called eminent domain, which essentially means the government takes private property for public use. The property owner is entitled to just compensation for the property during condemnation, but he does not have to give his approval of the sale.

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How is the value of property damage determined?

Property damage valuation is an art form that may require the services of a professional or expert appraiser. If the property has been completely destroyed so that it is of no further use and has no salvage value, the measure of damages (or the amount you will get for your property damage) can be set at the fair market value of the property immediately before its loss.

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