Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-azd-4_11-cv-00640/USCOURTS-azd-4_11-cv-00640-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 690
Nature of Suit: Other Forfeiture and Penalty Suits
Cause of Action: 08:1324 Aliens: Complaint for Forfeiture

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WO

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE DISTRICT OF ARIZONA

United States of America, |

| No. CV-11-00640-TUC-CRP

Plaintiff, | 

| ORDER AND 

vs. | DEFAULT JUDGMENT

|

1999 Chevrolet Tahoe, |

VIN 1GNEK13R7XJ487970, |

|

Defendant. | 

__________________________________|

The United States commenced this civil forfeiture action in October 2011. Doc. 1.

The government seeks the forfeiture of a 1999 Chevrolet Tahoe on the ground that on June

5, 2011, the vehicle was involved in offenses relating to unlawful transportation of an alien

into or within the United States, 8 U.S.C. § 1324(a)(1)(A). Id. at 1-2. The vehicle presently

is in the custody of the United States Customs and Border Protection within this Court's

jurisdiction. Id. at 2.

Believing that Brian Edmiston may claim an interest in the vehicle, see id., the

government provided him written notice of this action and posted the action on the website

www.forfeiture.gov. Docs. 6, 7. Edmiston has filed no claim. The Clerk has entered his

default as to any interest he may have in the defendant property pursuant to Rule 55(a) of the

Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. Doc. 9.

The government has filed a motion for default judgment against Edmiston and all

other persons who may claim an interest in the defendant property. Doc. 10. No response

has been filed, and the time for doing so has expired. See LRCiv 7.2(c). For reasons stated

below, the Court will grant the motion.

Case 4:11-cv-00640-CRP Document 11 Filed 01/09/12 Page 1 of 3
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Because Edmiston's default has been entered under Rule 55(a), and given that no other

person has filed a claim or otherwise appeared in this action, the Court has discretion to grant

default judgment pursuant to Rule 55(b). See Aldabe v. Aldabe, 616 F.2d 1089, 1092 (9th

Cir. 1980). Factors to be considered in deciding whether to grant default judgment include

the possibility of prejudice to the government absent a default judgment, the merits of the

forfeiture request, the sufficiency of the complaint, the monetary value at stake, the

possibility of a dispute concerning material facts, whether default was due to excusable

neglect, and the policy favoring a decision on the merits. See Eitel v. McCool, 782 F.2d

1470, 1471-72 (9th Cir. 1986). In applying the Eitel factors, "the factual allegations of the

complaint, except those relating to the amount damages, will be taken as true." Geddes v.

United Fin. Group, 559 F.2d 557, 560 (9th Cir. 1977); see Fed. R. Civ. P. 8(b)(6).

Having considered the government's motion and relevant Eitel factors, and having

reviewed the verified complaint and supporting affidavit (Doc. 1-2), the Court concludes that

default judgment is appropriate. The Court will grant default judgment against Edmiston and

all other persons who may claim an interest in the defendant property. See 8 U.S.C. §

1324(b); United States v. One 2003 Kenworth Tractor, No. C-06-536, 2007 WL 1467085,

at *5 (S.D. Tex. May 15, 2007) (granting default judgment with respect to forfeiture of

tractor-trailer allegedly involved in alien smuggling); United States v. $86,496.00, No.

CV-07-1693-PHX-DGC, 2008 WL 2039355, at *2-4 (D. Ariz. May 12, 2008) (discussing

the legal significance of failing to file a proper claim to the defendant property).

The government requests the issuance of a certificate of reasonable cause pursuant to

28 U.S.C. § 2465 (Doc. 10 at 2), but makes no argument in support of this request. Section

2465 relates to the return of property to a claimant and liability for wrongful seizure. Given

that default judgment will be entered in favor of the government, the statute seems

inapplicable. The government's request is denied.

IT IS ORDERED:

1. Plaintiff United States of America's motion for default judgment (Doc. 10) is

granted.

Case 4:11-cv-00640-CRP Document 11 Filed 01/09/12 Page 2 of 3
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2. Pursuant to Rule 55(b), default judgment is entered in favor of the United

States and against Brian Edmiston and all other persons who may claim an interest in

Defendant 1999 Chevrolet Tahoe, VIN 1GNEK13R7XJ487970.

3. Defendant 1999 Chevrolet Tahoe, VIN 1GNEK13R7XJ487970, is forfeited to

the United States.

4. The Clerk is directed to terminate this action.

DATED this 6th day of January, 2012.

Case 4:11-cv-00640-CRP Document 11 Filed 01/09/12 Page 3 of 3