Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_06-cv-00183/USCOURTS-caed-1_06-cv-00183-1/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 625
Nature of Suit: Drug Related Seizure of Property
Cause of Action: 21:881 Forfeiture Property-Drugs

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

Plaintiffs,

v.

1998 JEEP CHEROKEE, VIN:

1J4GZ48S5WC293316, LICENSE

NUMBER: 5N0J010,

Defendant.

 

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1:06-cv-0183 OWW CCC

SCHEDULING CONFERENCE ORDER

I. Date of Scheduling Conference.

June 28, 2006.

II. Appearances Of Counsel.

Stephanie Hamilton Borchers, Esq., Assistant U.S. Attorney,

appeared on behalf of Plaintiff. 

There was no appearance by Defendant. 

III. Summary of Pleadings. 

1. This is an in rem civil forfeiture action. In its

Verified Complaint for Forfeiture In Rem, the government alleges

that Defendant vehicle constitutes a conveyance used or intended

to be used to transport, or to facilitate the transportation,

sale, receipt, possession, or concealment of a controlled

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substance and is subject to forfeiture to the United States

pursuant to 21 U.S.C. § 881(a)(4).

2. The Defendant 1998 Jeep Cherokee, VIN:

1J4GZ48S5WC293316, License Number: 5N0JO10(hereinafter the

“Defendant vehicle”), was seized from Onecimo Viverous and Edwar

Lopez Rodriguez on September 19, 2005, on land in the Eastern

District of California by the Drug Enforcement Administration

(DEA). The action was published on March 29, 2006, in the Merced

Sun Star (Merced County) pursuant to the Order of Publication

filed February 23, 2006. The Proof of Publication was filed on

April 17, 2006. On March 10, 2006, Onecimo Viverous and Edwar

Lopez Rodriguez were personally served with copies of the

complaint, application and order for publication warrant and

summons for arrest, summons in a civil case, order setting

mandatory scheduling conference, standing order in all civil

cases assigned to U.S. Magistrate Judge Lawrence J. O’Neill,

notice of availability of a magistrate judge and notice of

availability of dispute resolution.

3. On or about March 20, 2006, Maria Delaluz Espindola was

personally served with copies of the above-listed documents. On

March 23, 2006, Maria Delaluz Espindola filed a Notice of

Withdrawal of Claim with the Court. The Government believes the

withdrawal of claim is in regards to Ms. Espindola’s claim filed

with the Drug Enforcement Administration in the administrative

forfeiture. To date, no other potential claimants have filed a

claim or answer in this action.

4. The Government and the Potential Claimants in this case

are in the process of entering into a Stipulation for Final

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Judgment of Forfeiture. Upon entry of a Final Judgment of

Forfeiture, the Defendant 1998 Jeep Cherokee, VIN:

1J4GZ48S5WC293316, License Number: 5N0J010, shall be forfeited to

the United States and disposed of according to law.

IV. Orders Re Amendments To Pleadings.

1. Only one alleged claimant has responded. On or about

March 20, 2006, Maria Delaluz Espindola was personally served

with the Summons and Complaint and related documents and this

Civil Forfeiture Action. On March 23, 2006, Ms. Espindola filed

a Notice of Withdrawal of Claim, although she never filed a claim

in the first instance. 

2. Two other individuals who were associated with the

property on which criminal activity is alleged to have been

conducted on Onecimo Viverous and Edwar Lopez Rodriguez have been

personally served with copies of the Summons and Complaint and

related Forfeiture documents, they have not responded. 

3. The government proposes to enter the default of Ms.

Espindola. 

4. The government is attempting to complete a stipulation

for entry of final judgment of forfeiture. Absent obtaining such

a stipulation, the government will move to enter the default of

all parties as publication has previously been effected in

accordance with the requirements of law. 

5. Plaintiff does not propose any amendments to the

existing pleadings. 

V. Factual Summary.

A. Admitted Facts Which Are Deemed Proven Without Further

Proceedings. 

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1. Not applicable.

B. Contested Facts.

1. Not applicable.

VI. Legal Issues.

A. Uncontested.

1. Jurisdiction exists under 28 U.S.C. §§ 1345 and

1355 and 21 U.S.C. § 81. 

2. Venue is proper under 28 U.S.C. § 1395.

B. Contested. 

1. There appear to be no disputed issues. 

VII. Consent to Magistrate Judge Jurisdiction.

1. The parties have not consented to transfer the 

case to the Magistrate Judge for all purposes, including trial.

VIII. Corporate Identification Statement.

1. Any nongovernmental corporate party to any action in

this court shall file a statement identifying all its parent

corporations and listing any entity that owns 10% or more of the

party's equity securities. A party shall file the statement with

its initial pleading filed in this court and shall supplement the

statement within a reasonable time of any change in the

information. 

IX. Discovery Plan and Cut-Off Date.

1. It is anticipated that this matter will proceed to

stipulated judgment. If a stipulation is not obtained the matter

will be set on the court’s calendar for entry of default. In the

event that stipulations have not been accomplished on or before

July 20, 2006, Plaintiff will move in accordance with the Federal

Rules of Civil Procedure to effectuate entry of judgment by

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default in the case. 

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: June 28, 2006 /s/ Oliver W. Wanger 

emm0d6 UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

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