United States of America v. 2012 GMC Savana Van et al

Filing 59

ORDER denying 58 Motion for Entry of Default without prejudice. Signed by District Judge Martin Reidinger on 09/15/2014. (klb)

THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE WESTERN DISTRICT OF NORTH CAROLINA
ASHEVILLE DIVISION
CIVIL CASE NO. 2:13-cv-00018-MR-DLH

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

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Plaintiff,
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vs.
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2012 GMC SAVANA VAN, et al.,
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Defendants.
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_______________________________ )

ORDER

THIS MATTER is before the Court on the Government’s Motion for
Entry of Default against All Persons and Entities Except Jackie Rattler
[Doc. 58].
The Government moves pursuant to Rule 55(a) of the Federal Rules
of Civil Procedure for the entry of default against all persons and entities
except the Claimant Jackie Rattler, with whom the Government has
reached a settlement agreement. In its motion, the Government identifies
four other persons or entities – Debra Louise Smith, Ford Motor Credit Co.,
Timothy Leroy Rattler, Rebecca Ward – who were identified by the
Government as potential claimants and to whom the Government provided
notice of the civil forfeiture action as required by Rule G(4)(b)(iii) of the

Supplement Rules for Admiralty or Maritime Claims and Asset Forfeiture
Actions.

For three of these potential claimants, the Government has

demonstrated that notice was sent via certified mail, return receipt
requested, and that the return receipt was signed for and returned to the
Government. With respect to Rebecca Ward, the Government states that
“[t]he notice was returned to the United States as unclaimed. Exh. D.”
[Doc. 58 at 3]. A review of Exhibit D, however, shows an unsigned return
receipt that contains no indication that it was returned to the Government
as “unclaimed.”
In light of the documentation submitted by the Government, the Court
is not satisfied that direct notice was properly sent to one of the potential
claimants identified by the Government.
IT IS, THEREFORE, ORDERED that the Government’s Motion for
Entry of Default against All Persons and Entities Except Jackie Rattler
[Doc. 58] is DENIED WITHOUT PREJUDICE.
IT IS SO ORDERED.

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