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TheBasicCase:DrugDistributionorPossesswith

Intent• Adrugdealgoesdown• Thedrugdealerisstoppeddrivingacarandcarryingawadofcash

• Hehasnojob• Hehasscales,packagingmaterials,andabunchofdrugsindividuallypackagedforsale

• Everythingisseizedandthecaristowed

YouHave2CasestoPrep!

•Thecriminalcase

•Thecivilforfeiturecase

You’vedonethePWID/Distributioncriminalcaseathousandtimes….

Nowit’syourtimetoshineasaCIVILATTORNEY!

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ForfeituresMadeEasy

BenjaminH.GarrisonAsst.Commonwealth’sAttorney

Chesterfield,VAPhone:(804)748-1221

Email:garrisonb@chesterfield.gov

HINT!

ThisPowerPointisanadaptationofmymanual.

Themanualiswrittenforbothattorneysandstaff.

Itlaysouttheforfeitureprocessstep-by-step!

MostCommonSeizure:AttheScene

• Iflawenforcementhasprobablecausetobelieveavehiclewasusedtofacilitateadrugoffense,anditisinapublicplace,theymayseizeit,searchit,andseizecurrencyandevidencetheyfindwithouttheneedofasearchwarrant.– Floridav.White,526U.S.559(1999)– TheU.S.SupremeCourtdecidedthattheofficersdidnotneedto

obtainawarrantpriortoseizingtheproperty,underthe4thamendment.Aslongastheofficershadprobablecausetobelievethatthevehicleisforfeitablecontraband,theseizureislegal.

• NOTE:Thisruleonly applieswhenlawenforcementisalreadylawfullyintheplacewheretheseizuretakesplace

• Moneywhichcanbetiedtothecrime

• Otherproperty

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BasicProcess

• STEP1– SeizureofPropertyatthescene• STEP2– CommenceanActionofForfeiture&GiveNotice

• STEP3– ClaimantshaveOpportunitytoReply• STEP4– Trial• STEP5- Judgment

Sothepoliceseizedtheproperty…Howdowegettheballrollingonthecivilforfeiture?

• Whenpropertyisseized,theofficersnotifytheC.A.’sofficeassoonaspossible!

• Here’swhatshouldbeprovided1. AcopyoftheDCJS998formthattheyfiledwithDCJS

(drugcases)2. Apolicereportdescribingtheevent3. Namesandaddressesofallpotentialclaimantsto

theproperty4. Liens!!!!!

C.A.Approval-ReadtheReport

• EstablishP.C.tobelievethepropertywasconnectedtoanoffenseforwhichforfeitureispermitted

• Lookforlegalissues,becausethe4thAmendmentappliestoforfeiturecases

• Lookforholesinthecaseanddeterminehowtoresolvethem(Hint:emailtheofficers)

• Lookforpotentialextraclaimants

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Q:SoIreviewedabunchofstuff…NowWhat?A:FiletheInitialPleadings• Information:initiatesthecase,allegingthespecificlegalclaimandissigned(UNDEROATH)

• Notice:statesthedateoftheinitialhearingandtellsthedefendanthowtocontesttheforfeiture

• AlsoneededareletterstotheClerkand theDefendants,aswellasacertified “HoldTitle”Letter

EndorsementofPleadings

TheC.A.signs,asanofficerofthecourt,thatanactionexists!

YouhavetoPROVEthepropertyissubjecttoforfeiture!

That’swhyyoureadthereportBEFOREinitiatingthelawsuit.

Practicepoint:Ifthefactslooklikeasimplepossessioncase,youshouldfollowupwiththeofficertoaskhowyoucanestablishPWIDinordertoendorse,asanofficerofthecourt,thatyouhaveavalidlegalaction.Remember,itisyourlawlicenseontheline.

TimingRules

• 90DayRule:Youmustfilewithin90daysiftheseizuretookplaceatthetimeofarrest,oryouareABSOLUTELYBARREDjurisdictionallyfrompursuingtheforfeiture

• 3YearRule:Ifthepropertywasnotseizedatthetimeofarrest,youhave3yearstofilethecase

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TheRedHerring:21DayNotice

• ThepolicedepartmentissupposedtonoticetheCAforthwithofaseizure

• TheCAisthensupposedtoadvisetheClerkoftheseizurewithin21days

• Thisisheldtobeadvisory,notjurisdictional

• Defenseattorneysraiseiteverynowandthen

• It’snothingtoworryabout

Butwhathappensifsomepropertywasnottakenas

evidenceatthetimeofarrest?

GetaSeizureWarrant!

WARRANT FOR SEIZURE OF PROPERTY SUBJECT T O FORFEITURE

Case No. ____________ .Va. Code Sec. 19.2-386.2

Chesterfield Circuit Court

Commonwealth of Virginia vs. ___________________________________

A. To the Sheriff or other state or local law enforcement officer authorized to serve criminal process in the jurisdiction where the property to be seized is located:

1. You are hereby authorized to seize immediately the following property:______ See attached copy of information

______ __________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________

2. You are also to safely handle such property as provided by law.

3. You also shall make return of service of this warrant.

________________________ JUDY L. WORTHINGTON, ClerkDate

By ______________________________, Deputy Clerk

RETURN OF SERVICE

I, the undersigned officer, did seize the items as set forth in this warrant and no others.

______________________ ______________________________________Police OfficerDate

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INITIATINGACASEWITHASEZIUREWARRANT

StepOne• PreptheInformation• PreptheNotice• PreptheSeizureWarrant• Prepthemailings• AppendanAffidavitifyou

feelitisneeded

StepTwo• Havetherequestingofficer

walkthepleadingstotheClerk’soffice

• StandandwaitfortheClerktoissuetheservicecopiesoftheInformation,theNotice,andtheSeizureWarrant

• Immediatelyfindthepropertyandexecutethewarrant

• Sendoutthemailings

Whydoweexecuteitimmediately?

• Youwanttogetthepropertybeforeitishiddenorsold

• Thedefendantwillbemailedcopiesofthepleadings,bylaw

• Ifthemailinggetstothedefendantbeforetheofficerseizestheproperty,thenthepropertywilldisappear!

TheThreeLetterstoInitiatetheForfeiture

• Doacoverlettertotheclerkforfilingpurposes,explaininghowyouanticipateservice

• Mailacopyofeverythingtothedefendantwithacertification– Themailingisrequired– Thecertificationallowsfordefaultjudgmentonpostedservice

• Mailacertified“holdtitle”lettertoDMVtokeepthedefendantfromtryingtoswitchthetitleintosomeoneelse’sname

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October 8, 2013

Attn: Sandra FinneyTitle, Licensing & Registration DepartmentDivision of Motor VehiclesP. O. Box 27412Richmond, VA 23269 -001

RE: _______style of case____________

Dear Ms. Finney:

Pursuant to the Code of Virginia, 1950 as amended, we hereby notify you that a motor vehicle was seized in the County of Chesterfield for violation of Section 19.2-386.22.

Vehicle Information

Date of seizure: 8/16/12 Make of vehicle: 1982 Ford Mustang

License number: TRAITOR-79 VIN: XY1AB1779C1234567

Driver’s Name: Benedict Arnold

Owner’s Name: Same

Please provide this office with any information you may have regarding the above-described vehicle. Thank you for your assistance and cooperation in this matter.

Sincerely,

Benjamin H. GarrisonAssistant Commonwealth’s Attorney

Attachment

Information:Contents

• VENUEfortheInformation– Wherethepropertyis

located– Wheretheproperty

wasseized– Wheretheownercould

beprosecuted

• CONTENTSoftheInformation– Partiestodefendantandall

ownersorlandholders.– Descriptionofproperty– Groundsforforfeiture– Prayforcondemnation,

sale,ordestruction– Askforconcernedparties

toappear

REFRESHER:WhatYouNeedtoPrep

PropertyAlreadySeizedatArrest

• Information• Notice• CoverLettertoClerk• CoverLettertoDefendant• “HoldTitle”lettertoDMVif

thereisacar

PropertyistobeSeized

• Information*• Notice*• SeizureWarrant*• CoverLettertoClerk*• CoverLettertoDefendant• “HoldTitle”lettertoDMVif

thereisacar

*Allwalkedovertoclerk’sofficetogethersoseizurewarrantcanissueimmediately

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PracticeTip

• Ifthereisprobablecausetobelieveevidenceofthecrimeexists,Ipreferasearchwarranttoaseizurewarrant

• Why?• Becauseitcanissueatanytime,asopposedtoduringtheClerk’susualhoursofbusiness

ServiceofProcess• PersonalService:

– Bestformofprocess• PostedService

– Requiressubsequentmailing(“Nail&Mail”)• ServicebyPublication

– Alsorequiresmailing– Expensive

• ServiceonOut-of-StateIndividualbySecretaryoftheCommonwealth– Note:MAKESUREyouusethemostcurrentform

Service

• WhileinCriminalCourt,getasheriffinthecourtroomtoservethedefendantbothitems

• Getthesherifftoattemptstandardcivilservicetoaknownaddress

• Haveyourdetectiveservethedefendant,especiallyifyouhaveaseizurewarrant

• Ifallelsefails,servebypublication(Note:Thisisexpensive,sogroupcasesifnecessary)

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Whogetsserved?

• Anyknownpersonwithanownershipinterestintheproperty

• Anyknownlienholdermustbeincludedasapartyrespondentinthepleadings

Whatifthedefendantisincarcerated?

• §8.01-2-- apersonconvictedofafelonyandservingtimeforthefelony,duringtheperiodheisconfinedISapersonunderadisability.

• Therefore,accordingto§8.01-9thatpersonshallbeappointedaguardianadlitem.

• Further,accordingto§1-13.42and§8.01-9,juvenilesarepersonswithdisabilitiesandshallbeappointedguardians.

• Thecostsoftheguardianarepaidoutofthemoneyforfeited,ORoutoftheCriminalDefenseFundshouldthemoneyforfeitednotbeadequateortheCommonwealthlosethecase.§19.2-386.12.

HearingDate• Adefendantisprovided30daysbystatutetofileananswerunderoath,orifserviceisbypostingandacertificateofmailing,thetimelimitis40days.

• Thereforewhenpickinganoticedate,trytomakethereturn90daysout topermittheofficersawindowtoservethepapersandtoallowthetimetoanswertorunonceserved.

• Ifthereisnoanswerbythereturndate,thensubmitadefaultjudgment.

• Ifadefendantanswers,astaymayberequestedtohaltthematteruntilthecriminalproceedingsconcludesoyoumayperformdiscovery.

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SettingtheHearingDate• Alternative1:Ourjurisdictionhassomuchvolumewesetaforfeituredocketonceevery4to6weeksandnoticeforthosedates.Ourjudgerequiresasummaryfordefault.

• Alternative2:Inotherjurisdictions,thenoticeisscheduledforcivildocketcall.Ifthereisnoanswer,judgessimplygrantdefaultuponsubmissionoftheorder.

DefaultRule

• Rule3:19(a):Default.• Adefendantwhofailstimelytofilearesponsivepleadingisindefault.

• Adefendantindefaultisnotentitledtonoticeofanyfurtherproceedingsinthecase,includingnoticetotakedepositions,exceptthatwrittennoticeofanyfurtherproceedingsshallbegiventocounselofrecord,ifany.

• Thedefendantindefaultisdeemedtohavewaivedanyrighttotrialofissuesbyjury.

ProcedureonDefault

• Rule3:19(c):DefaultJudgment• Thecourtshall,onmotionoftheplaintiff,enterjudgmentforthereliefappearingtothecourttobedue.

• Whenserviceofprocessiseffectedbyposting,nojudgmentbydefaultshallbeentereduntiltherequirementsofCode§8.01-296(2)(b)havebeensatisfied.(Nail&Mail)

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TheStay

• Thestatutepermitsastayforpendingcriminalmatters

• Manyprosecutorsandlawenforcementlookatthisasanegativebecauseitdelaysaforfeitureproceeding

• However,useittoyouradvantagewhenadefendantfilesananswer

• Staythecaseandpreparediscovery!

OtherAdvantagesoftheStay

• Tocontinueinvestigatingconspiracies

• Topreventinformationfromthiscaseaffectingothercases

• ToprotectundercoveragentsorCI’s

TheAnswer:Va.CodeSec.19.2-386.3(B)

• TheactualDefendant mustsign

• Under Oath

• Itmuststateanaffirmativedefense ANDhowthedefendantreceivedtheproperty

• Itmustprovideevidencethereof!!!

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PracticeTip

• Holddefensecounsel’sanddefendant’sfeettothefire

• Insisttheyfollowthelawwhenfilingresponsivepleadings—itwillmakeyourlifeeasier!

Ifdefendantfailstoanswerappropriately,objectandcompelavalidanswer!

Discovery

• Whendiscoveryisavailable,takeadvantageofalloptions.

• Oftenadefendantconcedestheforfeiturewhenheorsherealizesheorsheiscaughtinaseriesofhalf-truthsandoutrightlies.

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Bond• Anyinterestedparty,bystatute,ispermittedtopostabondfortheproperty

• IftheforfeitureisfoundinfavoroftheCommonwealth,thebondisforfeited.

• Howtoestablishvalue– NotethatVa.Code§ 19.2-386.6statesthattheclerkshallhiresomeonetoappraisethevalueofthepropertyatissue,whichisultimatelytaxedasacostoftheproceeding.

– However,customarily,ifthepartiesagreeastothevalueitsavestimeandeffortbecauseanagreedbondmaythenbeassessedandposted,thusavoidinganextracost.

AdvantageoftheBond• Youcanoftentakeadvantagebyofferingtosettleforacomparableresalevalue.

• ItwillusuallybesignificantlyMOREthanwhatyouwillreceiveatauctionandresolvethecasewithouthavingtoargueortoassessabondvalue.

• Althoughthepoliceareaversetothis,becauseitseemsyouaregivingbackpropertytoadrugdealer,itactuallyisabetterwaytoprotectthevalueoftheassetsincethedefenseattorneycanforcethevaluationandasubsequentpostingofbondanyway!

ReallyCoolTipAbouttheBond

• Alsoremember,bygivingbackthepropertytothedefendant,itgivesyouachancethatthedefendantwillre-violateandthenyougeta2nd chanceatthesamepieceofproperty,butinaseparateforfeitureaction!

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Trial

• Thisisacivilmatter• ItisstillOURburdentosatisfytheelements—interviewsofeveryoneatthesceneduringthearrestandfollowupinvestigation closeintimethereafterareextremelyhelpfulinnegatingfalseclaimants

• EffectiveJuly1,2016,wehavetoprovetheelementsbyaCLEARANDCONVINCINGEVIDENCE!!!

TrialTips• Excludewitnessesiftherearedefensewitnesses• Callthedefendantasawitness

– Obviously,adefendant’stestimonyalonecancreateissueswithregardstohisorheranswerstodiscovery.

– However,adefendant’stestimonyisalsovaluablefromthestandpointofvalidatingcertainpiecesofevidencewhichotherwisemaynotbeadmissibleinacriminalmatterwithoutcallingthirdpartywitnesses.

• Letdefendantcallhisorherwitness—oftenheorshewillcontradictwhatthedefendanttestifiedtowhenyoucalledthedefendant!

Trialtipswhenthedefendantisonthestand

Verifylackofemployment(V.E.C.)VerifyinconsistenciesinstatementsHavethedefendantverifyelementsofyourcase(example:yourapartment,yoursofa,yourwalletonsofa,youscalesbesidewallet,yourziplocs besidescales,yourcocainebrickbesidetheziplocs—itsfuntogothroughphotswiththem)

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ExamplesofQuestioning:WhyYouDoDiscovery

• Thisisyourapartment.Thisyoursofa.Andthisisyourwalletonthesofa.Andthesearescalesbesideyourwallet.Andtheseareziplocs besidethescales.Andthisisabrickofcocainebesidetheziplocs.Andthisis$2,500cashinaboxonthefloorinfrontofthesofa...(It’sreallyfuntogothroughphotoswiththem)

• Anddidn’tyoutellofficersthatnightyoupaidallthebillsandhadnojob?Butnowyouclaimyouareacardetailer,correct?Andwhoisyouremployer?Whycouldn’themakeittoday?Andwhydidn’thereportyouremploymentfortaxpurposes?Let’sgothroughyourlastyears’taxes…

• Theseareyoubankaccounts,correct?Whatdayofweekdoyougetpaid?Sowhywere$2,500depositsbeingmaderandomlyonTuesdaysandThursdays?AndwhywerewithdrawalsbeingmadeinAtlantawithinminutesofthedeposits?WhowasmakingthewithdrawalsinAtlantaifyouwereintown?

EvidentiaryTips

• Filecopiesofdruglabs

• Filecertifiedcopiesofanyconvictionsintherelatedcriminalmatters

• FileaMelendez notice

• UsetheDefendantasawitnesstointroduceevidence

VirginiaRulesofEvidence,Rule2:704

• “Incivilcases,noexpert…shallbeprohibitedfromexpressinganotherwiseadmissibleopinionorconclusionastoanymatteroffactsolelybecausethatfactistheultimateissue…”

• Remindyourjudgethatthisiscivil,notcriminal,andgetyourdrugdistributionexperttogiveanopinion!

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Subpoenas

• Issueanysubpoenarequestswithsufficienttimetoeffectuateservice

• Keepintouchwithofficersinordertomakesureyouknowwherecrucialwitnessesmaybeserved

TrialMatters

• Thereisarighttojurytrial

• Guiltypleas,nocontestpleas,andAlford pleasfromrelatedcriminalmattersareadmissibleagainstthedefendant

• Anypartyininterestthatsuccessfullydefendsaforfeitureisentitledtoattorney’sfeesandcostsfromtheStateCriminalFund

ShiftingtheBurden:ItisDefendant’sBurdentoProvea

Defense

AssumingtheCommonwealthmeetsitsburdenatthecloseofitscase-in-chief,thedefendantoranythirdpartyclaimantmustprovebyapreponderanceoftheevidencethatadefenseorastatutoryexemptionapplies,thusaffordingthatpartyprotectionfromforfeiture

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Exemptions• Thirdparties,suchaslienholders,mustbeservednoticeofproceedings.

• Alternatively,unknownthirdpartiesmayfileanswersatanytimepriortoentryoffinaljudgmentandenterthecase.

• Theexemptionssetforthinthestatuteeffectivelyprotectinnocentownersfromforfeitingtheirinterestintheproperty.

• Whenavalidlienholderexemptionisestablished,oftenitiseasierandmorecost-effectivetoreleasethepropertytothelienholderasarepossessionactionforthedefendant’sbreachofcontract.

WhatActuallyHappens?

• CrimeCommissionStudy2015:• OfAssetsSeized:

– 75%wereforfeited;– 17%werereturnedtoowner;– 6%weredismissedincourt;– 2%werereleasedtoalienholder– 1%wereadministrative/other.

HowDoAssetsGetForfeited

• CrimeCommissionStudy2015:• OfAssetsForfeited:

– 61%WereDefaults(NoClaimantAppeared)– 28%WereBySettlement/Agreement– 11%WereByAppearanceButSubsequentJudgmentagainstClaimant

– About1%WerebyTrial

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JudgmentforDrugCash:ShowMetheMoney!

• Oncejudgmentisenteredforcurrency,theproceedsaredistributedforlawenforcementpurposes.

• D.C.J.S.getsatenpercentshareforanyforfeitureof$500.00ormore.

• OtherwisetheremainderisdispersedbyagreementtothelawenforcementagencyandtheCommonwealth’sAttorney’sOffice.

DCJSFORMREQUIRED

• AD.C.J.S.999formneedstobefiled,andtheCommonwealth’sAttorney’sofficeandthelawenforcementagencyshouldcoordinatethistaskbetweenthem.

• Insomejurisdictions,theD.C.J.S.999formsarefiledbytheCommonwealth’sAttorney’sOffice.

• However,inChesterfieldtheD.C.J.S999formsarefiledbytheForfeitureDetective.

JudgmentAgainstPropertyRelatedtoDrugs

• Thepropertymaybemaintainedandusedbylawenforcement.

• Alternatively,thepropertymaybeauctionedandtheproceedsdividedaccordingly.

• Finally,thepropertymaybedestroyeduponnotificationtotheCircuitCourt.

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Ifitisnotadrugcase…

...theordershouldreflectthatthemoneygoestotheStateLiteraryFund.

RealEstate

Ourdream! Whatweactuallyfind

RealProperty• Itisuptoyourjurisdictionastowhethertopursuereal

property• Issuesincludemaintenance,upkeep,liens,taxpayments,

andthedreadedlis pendens• FY2014:Only2RealPropertyForfeitureActionsinVirginia• InChesterfieldwedoNOTdoforfeituresforrealproperty

duetothecosts• However,wetrytocoordinatewithFederalAuthorities,

whooftenwilltakethesecases

• IFYOUAREINTERESTED,THENCALLSOMEONEWHOHASDONEITBEFORE!

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PostTrialRelief• AfterForfeiture,aclaimantmayfileforpost-trialrelief

• Forgoodcauseshownanduponproofofthedefendant’svalidexemption,DCJSshallgrantthepetitionanddirectthestatetreasurytoeitherremittothedefendantanamountnotexceedinghisinterestintheproperty,orconveyclearandabsolutetitletotheforfeitedproperty.

• Va.Code§19.2-386.10.• BurdenofProof:PreponderanceoftheEvidence

THISISCIVIL!

Thinkoutsidetheboxandhavesomefun!