Emerson 32 inch lcd tv two years old has lines running vertically in different areas of the screen top to bottom. What would cause this? The are red green and blue. Is it a known defect?

I don't know anything of this particular TV, but what you describe is generally a known problem in LCD displays.

it's caused by one of two things - either parts of the LCD film thin film for the vertical lines detatching from the board it is glued on or certain micro controllers that are also glued on the LCD film starting to get burned bit by bit. In both cases, the whole vertical line responsible for one of the three colors that a single pixel consist off get dead and depending on how they get dead they get either all open or all closed, respectively completely turning on or shutting off the particular color.

It is most commonly the first case, but whichever of the two it is, there's no known cure for it within reasonable cost.

I've experimented a few times and was able to press the film to the board by using firm objects and fastening the display case, but it would often cause more harm than it brings and even more often it would just not hold reliably. Overall I do not recommend experimenting with it it unless you have lots of time on your hands and you're ready to face an evern worse damage.

In a very rare cases it might also be the tcon also known as LCD controller...but from what you describe it's hardly it. It's worth trying, but if I had to take a guess I'd rather rule it out - it sounds like the LCD.

And the bottom line is you just have to face it - you likely need a new TV. If there's some chance for me to be wrong, try the tcon board at the back first. Then just sold the TV on eBay or CL for whoever gives you most and apply the money towards the new purchase.
Don't kill me, I'm just the messenger :-)