Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_04-cv-00979/USCOURTS-caed-2_04-cv-00979-9/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 891
Nature of Suit: Agricultural Acts
Cause of Action: 28:1331 Fed. Question

---

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

Page 1 of 3

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

(Sacramento Division)

ANDY ADAMS and HEATHER

ADAMS, husband and wife,

et. al., 

Plaintiffs,

 

 v.

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

et. al.,

Defendants.

Civil No. 04-0979 DFL KJM-PS

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

 Plaintiff 

v.

Patrick McCauley and

Patricia McCauley

 

 Defendants. 

The court finds that it possesses the authority to grant the

United States a writ of possession under Cal. Civ. Proc. Code §

512.010. 

In California, parties seeking claim and delivery may file

for a writ of possession under Cal. Civ. Proc. Code § 512.010. 

Simms v. NPCK Enter. Inc., 109 Cal. App. 4th 233, 241 (2003). 

Courts must issue the writ if the plaintiff establishes that: (1)

it is entitled to possession of the property; and (2) defendant

Case 2:04-cv-00979-JAM -CMK Document 115 Filed 05/14/07 Page 1 of 3
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

Page 2 of 3

is wrongfully detaining the property. Cal. Civ. Proc. Code §§

512.010, 512.040 (2007). 

The United States is correct that it is entitled to

possession of the livestock. The Adams pledged the animals as

collateral to their FSA loans. Because the Adams defaulted on

their loans, the United States is entitled to recover the

animals.

Moreover, the McCauleys’s continued possession is wrongful. 

This dispute between the McCauleys and the government has carried

on since August 2006, almost immediately after the McCauleys took

possession of the sheep. By steadfastly refusing to turn over

the sheep or to sell them, the McCauleys have continued to incur

costs that dramatically increase the value of their lien at the

expense of the government’s lien. These costs could have been

avoided if the McCauleys took advantage of settling their claims

in the bankruptcy court. California law also provides for a

procedure for the McCauleys to either keep possession of the

sheep or to sell them, Cal. Civ. Code § 3080.21, which they did

not follow. In addition, the McCauleys have made accounting more

difficult by commingling the Adams’ sheep with their own. 

Finally, the timing of the Adams’ bankruptcy and the McCauleys’

possession is suggestive of collusion intended to defeat the

government’s lien.

After reviewing the McCauleys’s proposal and the

government’s proposal, the court finds the government’s proposal

more reasonable. Therefore, the court GRANTS the United States a

writ of possession and ADOPTS the United States’s proposal for

sale of the herd.

Case 2:04-cv-00979-JAM -CMK Document 115 Filed 05/14/07 Page 2 of 3
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

Page 3 of 3

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: May 11, 2007

 /s/ David F. Levi 

DAVID F. LEVI

United States District Judge 

Case 2:04-cv-00979-JAM -CMK Document 115 Filed 05/14/07 Page 3 of 3