Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_07-cv-02015/USCOURTS-caed-2_07-cv-02015-1/pdf.json

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

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McGREGOR W. SCOTT

United States Attorney

KRISTIN S. DOOR, SBN 84307

Assistant United States Attorney

501 I Street, Suite 10-100

Sacramento, CA 95814

Telephone: (916)554-2723

Attorneys for Plaintiff

United States of America

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, ) 2:07-CV-02015-LEW-DAD

 )

Plaintiff, ) 

 ) JOINT STATUS REPORT 

v. ) AND REQUEST FOR STAY AND

 ) ORDER 

REAL PROPERTY LOCATED AT )

23082 SAINT HELENA DRIVE, ) 

PENN VALLEY, CALIFORNIA, )

NEVADA COUNTY, APN: 02-530-21, )

INCLUDING ALL APPURTENANCES )

AND IMPROVEMENTS THERETO, ) DATE:

 ) TIME:

 Defendant. ) COURTROOM:

 )

Pursuant to this Court's Order of October 2, 2007, the

parties submit the following Joint Status (Pretrial Scheduling)

Report:

A. THE NATURE OF THE CASE:

Plaintiff seeks to forfeit the defendant property under 21

U.S.C. § 881(a)(7) on the theory that the defendant real property

was used to facilitate a drug transaction, i.e., it was used to

cultivate marijuana in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1) et seq. 

B. PROGRESS IN THE SERVICE OF PROCESS:

Jared and Carly Painter (hereafter “claimants”), the owners

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of the defendant property, were served with the Complaint for

Forfeiture In Rem, Notice of Complaint, Application and Order for

Publication, and Court Notices by certified mail on November 15,

2007. Claimants have filed a claim to the property and an

Answer to the Verified Complaint for Forfeiture In Rem. 

C. POSSIBLE JOINDER OF ADDITIONAL PARTIES:

None. 

D. ANY EXPECTED OR DESIRED AMENDMENT OF PLEADING:

None. 

E. JURISDICTION AND VENUE:

This Court's jurisdiction is based on 28 U.S.C. §§ 1345 and

1355, and 21 U.S.C. § 881.

F. ANTICIPATED MOTIONS AND THE SCHEDULING THEREOF:

As explained below, the parties request that this matter be

stayed for six months. Accordingly, the parties request that

this case not be scheduled at this time. 

Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. §§ 981(g)(1), (g)(2), and 21 U.S.C. §

881(i) the parties suggest that a stay of further proceedings in

this case is necessary. The United States contends that the

defendant real property was used to facilitate a violation of

federal drug laws (cultivation of marijuana) and is therefore

forfeitable to the United States. Claimant Jared Painter is

currently being prosecuted in Nevada County Superior Court in

connection with the marijuana discovered on the defendant

property.

To prosecute this civil in rem forfeiture action, the United

States intends to depose the claimants Jared and Carly Painter

about the claims they filed in this case and the facts

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surrounding the cultivation of marijuana plants on this property. 

If discovery proceeds, claimants would be placed in the difficult

position of either invoking their Fifth Amendment right against

self-incrimination and losing the ability to protect their

alleged interest in the defendant property, or waiving their

Fifth Amendment rights and submitting to depositions and

potentially incriminating themselves in the pending criminal

matter. If claimants invoke their Fifth Amendment rights, the

United States will be deprived of the ability to explore the

factual basis for the claims they filed in this action and the

defenses raised in their Answers. 

In addition, claimants intend to depose state and federal

law enforcement officers who were involved in the execution of a

federal search warrant at the defendant property. Allowing

depositions of these officers would adversely affect the ability

of the Nevada County prosecutors to conduct its related criminal

investigation and prosecution. 

 Accordingly, the parties contend that proceeding with this

action at this time has potential adverse affects on the

investigation and prosecution of the related criminal case and/or

upon claimants' ability to prove their claim to the property and

to contest the government's allegations that the property is

forfeitable. For these reasons, the parties request that the

matter be stayed for a period of six months. At that time the

government will advise the Court whether a further stay is

necessary.

//

//

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G. ANTICIPATED DISCOVERY AND THE SCHEDULING THEREOF,

INCLUDING:

(1) what changes, if any, should be made in

the timing, form, or requirements for

disclosure under Rule 26(a), including a

statement as to when disclosures under Rule

26(a)(1) were made or will be made;

(2) the subjects on which discovery may be

needed, when discovery should be completed,

and whether discovery should be conducted in

phases or be limited to or focused upon

particular issues;

(3) what changes, if any, should be made in

the limitations on discovery imposed under

the Civil Rules and what other limitations,

if any, should be imposed;

(4) the timing of the disclosure of expert

witnesses and information required by Rule

26(a)(2);

In light of the requested stay the parties do not intend to

conduct discovery at this time.

H. FUTURE PROCEEDINGS, INCLUDING SETTING APPROPRIATE

CUT-OFF DATES FOR DISCOVERY, LAW AND MOTION, AND THE

SCHEDULING OF PRETRIAL AND TRIAL:

In light of the requested stay the parties request that this

case not be fully scheduled at this time.

I. APPROPRIATENESS OF SPECIAL PROCEDURES:

None.

J. ESTIMATE OF TRIAL TIME:

The parties estimate three trial days for a trial.

K. MODIFICATION OF STANDARD PRETRIAL PROCEDURES SPECIFIED

BY THE RULES DUE TO THE RELATIVE SIMPLICITY OR

COMPLEXITY OF THE ACTION OF PROCEEDINGS:

None.

//

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L. WHETHER THE CASE IS RELATED TO ANY OTHER CASE, 

INCLUDING ANY MATTERS IN BANKRUPTCY:

The parties are not aware of any related case.

M. WHETHER A SETTLEMENT CONFERENCE SHOULD BE SCHEDULED:

The parties do not believe a settlement conference is

appropriate in this case.

N. ANY OTHER MATTERS THAT MAY ADD TO THE JUST AND

EXPEDITIOUS DISPOSITION OF THIS MATTER:

None. 

Date: January 17, 2008

McGREGOR SCOTT 

United States Attorney

By /s Kristin S. Door

KRISTIN S. DOOR

Assistant U.S. Attorney

Date: January 14, 2008 _____________________

BRENDA GRANTLAND

Attorney for claimants

Jared and Carly Painter

ORDER

For the reasons set forth above, this matter is stayed

pursuant to 18 U.S.C. §§ 981(g)(1) and 981(g)(2) and 21 U.S.C. §

881(i) until July 15, 2008. On or before July 15, 2008, the

parties will advise the court of the status of the related

investigation and whether a further stay is necessary. 

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: January 17, 2008 /s/ Ronald S. W. Lew 

RONALD S.W. LEW 

U.S. District Judge

United States District Court

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