Spoliation

Spoliation is an English word, which first appeared in late Middle English, derived from the Latin verb spoliare ("strip", "deprive") and noun spoliatio. The word is closely related to the English word spoil. Spoliation may refer to:

General

 The act of destroying an object or multiple objects without a good reason

Law

 The act of taking goods or property from somewhere violently, sometimes known as looting

 The authorized looting or takeover of neutral ships by a warring state

 Spoliation of evidence, referring to the "intentional, reckless, or negligent withholding, hiding, altering, fabricating, or destroying of evidence relevant to a legal proceeding"Black's Law Dictionary (8th ed. 2004).  For an overview of spoliation, see generally Michael Zuckerman, Yes, I Destroyed the Evidence -- Sue Me?, Journal of Computer and Information Law

Architecture

 The deconstruction of buildings for spolia – removing stones from old buildings for new construction

Christianity

 The taking of the fruits of a benefice (a permanent Church officer) by someone not supposed to have them

References

Category:Law
Category:Legal terms