Delaware Code
Chapter 71. CRIMINAL NUISANCE ABATEMENT
§ 7107. Affirmative defenses.

It shall be an affirmative defense for the owner or landlord to establish, by a preponderance of the evidence, that said owner or landlord attempted to abate the alleged criminal nuisance prior to receiving notice in writing of the State's intent to bring a criminal nuisance abatement action regarding the premises. Examples of actions that are indicia of attempts to abate alleged criminal nuisances include but are not limited to:

(1) Sending or delivering a notice pursuant to § 5513 of Title 25 that the conduct of the tenant, or their guests or invitees, breaches a rule or covenant that is material to the rental agreement;
(2) Sending or delivering a termination notice pursuant to § 5513(a) or (b) of Title 25;
(3) Filing an action for summary possession of the rental unit;
(4) Seeking police intervention to have those responsible for the action prosecuted and actively assisting the police in efforts to prosecute those responsible for the actions or activities being complained of by the complainants.

Structure Delaware Code

Delaware Code

Title 10 - Courts and Judicial Procedure

Chapter 71. CRIMINAL NUISANCE ABATEMENT

§ 7101. Short title.

§ 7102. Purpose; construction.

§ 7103. Definitions.

§ 7104. Maintaining a criminal nuisance.

§ 7105. Action to abate criminal nuisance.

§ 7106. Jurisdiction; complaint; notice of lis pendens.

§ 7107. Affirmative defenses.

§ 7108. Notice to interested parties.

§ 7110. Delay and dismissal of actions.

§ 7111. Temporary abatement hearing; order; procedure.

§ 7112. Enforcing ex parte and temporary abatement orders.

§ 7113. Permanent abatement for all criminal nuisance actions; hearing; admissible evidence.

§ 7114. Duty of Attorney General; proceeds of sale in all criminal nuisance actions.

§ 7115. Lease void if building used for criminal nuisance.

§ 7118. Notification and provision of treatment resources.

§ 7119. Premises involving multiple residences or businesses.

§ 7121. Presumption against closure; vacating closure after abatement of nuisance and proof nuisance is not likely to occur.

§ 7122. Standard of proof.

§ 7123. Admissibility of evidence to prove criminal nuisance.

§ 7124. Relationship to criminal proceedings.

§ 7125. Release of premises upon inspection or repair.

§ 7126. Penalties.

§ 7127. Settlements.

§ 7128. Recovery of costs.

§ 7129. Contempt.

§ 7130. Cumulative remedies.

§ 7131. Liability for damage to closed properties.

§ 7132. Civil immunity.

§ 7133. Civil action for damages resulting from criminal nuisance.

§ 7134. Presumptions.