United States of America v. One 1994 Chevrolet Corvette, VIN #1G1YY22P7R5103880, et al
Filing
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ORDER GRANTING United States' 23 Motion to Strike as set out. In light of this ruling, United States' 26 Motion for Summary Judgment & Blackmon's 28 Motion for Summary Judgment are found to be MOOT as set out. There being no claims outstanding against the dft property, this matter is ripe for final disposition on motion of Plf. Signed by Judge Callie V. S. Granade on 7/23/2013. (copy mailed to Claimant Auto Pawn (c/o Ron Blackmon) on 7/24/13) (tot)
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF ALABAMA
SOUTHERN DIVISION
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
Plaintiff,
vs.
One 2003 Ford Mustang,
VIN 1FAFP45X23F316865, et al.
Defendants.
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Civil Action No. 12-0670-CG-M
ORDER
This matter is before the court on the claimant Ron Blackmon’s of Auto
Pawn of Daphne (“Blackmon”) motion to release property (Doc. 19), the
United States’ motion to strike (Doc. 23), and Blackmon’s opposition to the
motion to strike. (Doc. 25). Also before the court is the motion for summary
judgment and brief in support of the United States (Docs. 26, 27), Blackmon’s
motion for summary judgment and its supplement (Doc. 28, 30), and the
United States’ opposition to Blackmon’s motion. (Doc. 29).
FACTS
The United States filed an amended verified complaint for forfeiture in
rem of a 2003 Ford Mustang, VIN #1FAFP45X23F316865, among other
property, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 981(a)(1)(C), alleging that the money used
to pay off the loan on the defendant vehicle and obtain its title was acquired
through wire fraud. (Doc. 7). Specifically, Janice Bollin (“Bollin”) and Tricia
McGee (“McGee”) obtained the funds by submitting false claims to the Gulf
Coast Claims Facility (“GCCF”) online and by fax after the Deepwater
Horizon BP oil spill. (Doc. 7, ¶¶ 12-19). More than a year after McGee used
the fraudulent BP claim money to pay off the loan on the Mustang and obtain
its title, Blackmon alleges that she granted Auto Pawn of Daphne a security
interest in the vehicle pursuant to a pawn agreement1. (Doc. 9 at 1, 3). On
May 11, 2012, the U.S. Secret Service seized the defendant Mustang from
Bollin as authorized by a seizure warrant issued by this court. (Doc. 7, ¶ 4).
On December 19, 2012, the United States served Blackmon with a copy
of the Notice of Forfeiture Action and the amended verified complaint by
certified mail. (Doc. 7-1). The notice of forfeiture clearly informed Blackmon
of his obligation to file a verified claim to the property within 35 days of
service, as required by Rule G(5) of the Supplemental Rules for Admiralty or
Maritime Claims and Asset Forfeiture Actions (“Supplemental Rules”), and
that if he filed a claim, he had 21 days after doing so to file an answer to the
complaint.2
Based on the relation back doctrine codified at 18 U.S.C. §981(f), “[a]ll right,
title, and interest in the property . . . shall vest in the United States upon
commission of the act giving rise to the forfeiture.” The United States’
interest in the vehicle apparently predates the claimant’s interest by more
than a year.
2 (Doc. 7-1 at 1-2). Rule G(4) requires the United States to send “notice of the
action and a copy of the complaint to any person who reasonably appears to
be a potential claimant.” See Rule G(4)(b)(i) of the Supplemental Rules. The
United States also sent copies of the verified complaint and a Notice of
Forfeiture Action to Bollin and McGee by certified mail setting forth the
pleading requirements and deadlines mandated by the Supplemental Rules.
(Doc. 1-2 at 2-3). Neither Bollin nor McGee filed a claim or other responsive
pleading within the applicable time period. (Doc. 23 at 2, n. 2)
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Blackmon filed a claim (not verified) to the vehicle on January 8, 2013,
(Doc. 9), but did not file an answer to the complaint within 21 days, or at any
time thereafter. The United States attempted to work out a settlement with
Blackmon (Doc. 12 & 14). After rejecting the United States’ offer to share the
post-forfeiture proceeds from the Mustang’s sale, (see Doc. 21), On April 9,
2011, Blackmon filed a motion demanding release of the property. (Doc. 19).
The United States then moved to strike Blackmon’s filings pursuant to
Supplemental Rule G(8)(c)(i)(A) and (B) on grounds that Blackmon lacks
standing to oppose the forfeiture because he did not sign his claim under
penalty of perjury or file an answer within 21 days of filing his claim. (Doc.
23). Subsequently, each party filed a motion for summary judgment. (Docs.
26, 28).
DISCUSSION
The Supplemental Rules and 18 U.S.C. § 983(a)(4) “govern civil
forfeiture actions and establish standing requirements for contesting
forfeiture.” United States v. $12,126.00 in U.S. Currency, 337 Fed.Appx. 818,
819 (11th Cir. 2009); See 18 U.S.C. § 983; Rule G(1) of the Supplemental
Rules; United States v. $38,000.00 Dollars in U.S. Currency, 816 F.2d 1538,
Rule G(4) also requires that the government publish public notice of a
civil forfeiture action. See Rule G(4) of the Supplemental Rules. The United
States published notice on an official government website at
www.forfeiture.gov for 30 consecutive days, from October 26, 2012 until
November 24, 2012. (Doc. 10). It stated that anyone receiving notice of the
intended forfeiture of the defendant Mustang from the online positing must
file a claim within 60 days of the first date of publication. Id. at 4. No such
claims were filed before the 60-day deadline. (Doc. 23 at 2, n. 2)
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1544-45 (11th Cir. 1987). The notice of forfeiture served on Blackmon clearly
informed him that the claim to the property “must be signed by the claimant
under penalty of perjury,” as required by Supplemental Rule G(5), and that
“any person having filed such claim must also file an answer or motion in
response to the complaint no later than 21 days after filing the claim.” (Doc.
7-1 at 1-2). However, Blackmon did not sign his filings under penalty of
perjury nor file an answer within 21 days of his claim.
The Supplemental Rules authorize the striking of claim for “failing to
comply with Rule G(5).” See Rule G(8)(c)(i)(A) of the Supplemental Rules.
Federal courts typically enforce pleading requirements of the Supplemental
Rules strictly in the civil forfeiture context. United States v. 40 Acres of Real
Property, 629 F.Supp.2d 1264, 1272-75 (S.D. Ala. 2009); See $12,126.00 in
U.S. Currency, 33 Fed.Appx. at 819-20 (affirming a district court’s striking of
a claimant’s claim as authorized by Rule G(8) for failure to file an answer as
required by Rule G(5)) citing United States v. $125,938.62, 370 F.3d 1325,
1328-29 (11th Cir. 2004); $38,000.00 Dollars in U.S. Currency, 816 F.2d at
1544-45. Courts generally will not use their discretion to excuse pro se
claimants from complying with Supplemental Rule G(5) absent a showing of
extenuating circumstances or legitimate explanation of why they did not
adhere to the pleading requirements. See $12,126.00 in U.S. Currency, 33
Fed.Appx. at 820; U.S. v. One Chevrolet Suburban, Civil Case No. 7: 10-CV0153 (HL), 2011 WL 454371, *2 (M.D. Ga. Sept. 29, 2011). Blackmon has not
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offered any special circumstances that warrant a relaxation of Supplemental
Rule G(5)’s standards, other than taking the position that the United States
is not entitled to forfeiture. Consequently, the striking of Blackmon’s filings
pursuant to Rule G(8)(c)(i)(A) is proper.
The United States further argues that Blackmon’s failure to adhere
with Supplemental Rule G(5)’s pleading requirements also subjects the
filings to being stricken due to a lack of statutory standing. Rule G(8)(c)(i)(B)
authorizes a motion to strike “because the claimant lacks standing.”
$12,126.00 in U.S. Currency, 337 Fed. Appx. at 820 (“We have emphasized
that claimants must strictly adhere to the procedural requirements of the
Supplemental Rules to achieve statutory standing to contest a forfeiture
action.”); $125,938.62, 370 F.3d at 1328 (“A verified claim is a sworn notice of
claim and is essential to confer[ring] statutory standing upon a claimant in a
forfeiture action.”) (internal quote marks and citations omitted); See
$38,000.00 Dollars in U.S. Currency, 370 F.3d at 1328. The court agrees.
Because Blackmon did not file a verified claim or timely answer in
compliance with the Supplemental Rules, he lacks standing to challenge the
forfeiture action. Thus, the United States’ motion to strike Blackmon’s filings
is GRANTED.
CONCLUSION
For the reasons explained above, the United States’ motion to strike
(Doc. 23) Blackmon’s notice for relief of forfeiture and demand for release of
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property is GRANTED. In light of this ruling, the United States’ motion for
summary judgment (Doc. 26) and Blackmon’s motion for summary judgment
(Doc. 28) are found to be MOOT. There being no claims outstanding against
the defendant property, this matter is ripe for final disposition on motion of
the plaintiff.
DONE and ORDERED this 23rd day of July, 2013.
/s/ Callie V. S. Granade
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE
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