Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_06-cv-00419/USCOURTS-caed-1_06-cv-00419-4/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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McGREGOR W. SCOTT

United States Attorney

STEPHANIE HAMILTON BORCHERS

Assistant U.S. Attorney

Federal Courthouse, Suite 4401

2500 Tulare Street

Fresno, California 93721

Telephone: (559) 497-4000

Facsimile: (559) 497-4099

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE 

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

Plaintiff,

v.

REAL PROPERTY LOCATED AT 8500

SIMMERLY RD., COVELO,

MENDOCINO COUNTY, CALIFORNIA,

APNs: 033-030-04-00, 033-040-33-00,

032-226-03-00, 032-226-04-00, 032-226-

05-00, INCLUDING ALL

APPURTENANCES AND

IMPROVEMENTS THERETO,

Defendant.

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1:06-CV-00419-OWW-DLB

FINAL JUDGMENT OF FORFEITURE

Pursuant to the Stipulation for Final Judgment of Forfeiture filed herein, the Court finds: 

1. This is a civil forfeiture action against certain real property listed in the caption above. 

The real property is more particularly described and attached hereto in Exhibit A (hereafter

referred to as "defendant real property"). 

2. A Verified Complaint for Forfeiture In Rem was filed on April 12, 2006, seeking the

forfeiture of the defendant real property, alleging that said real property is subject to forfeiture to

the United States of America, pursuant to 21 U.S.C. § 881(a)(7). 

3. On or about June 5, 2006, the defendant real property was posted with copies of the

Complaint and Notice of the Complaint in a manner consistent with the requirements of 18

U.S.C. § 985. See the Process Receipt and Returns filed June 22, 2006. 

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4. On July 23, 30, August 6, and 13, 2006, notice of this forfeiture action appeared by

publication in the Ukiah Daily Journal, a newspaper of general circulation in the county in which

the defendant real property is located (Mendocino County). The Proof of Publication was filed

with the Court on September 21, 2006.

5. In addition to the Public Notice of this forfeiture action having been completed, actual

notice was served on Rebecca Giauque, Adrian Vasquez, and Benjamin Lomax. Rebecca

Giauque, Adrian Vasquez, and Benjamin Lomax have filed verified claims and answers in this

action.

6. To date no other parties have filed claims or answers in this matter and the time in

which any person or entity may file a claim and answer has expired.

7. On June 2, 2006, a Stipulation and Order for Interlocutory Sale was entered which

authorized the sale of the defendant real property and deposit of the net proceeds with the U.S.

Marshals Service. On or about June 17, 2006, the Government received a check in the amount of

$241,553.45 and two installment notes in the amounts of $125,000.00 and $100,000.00, which

represented the total net proceeds from the sale of the defendant real property. On or about

November 28, 2006, the Government received checks in the amount of $128,534.25 and

$102,827.40, which represents full payment on the two installments notes referenced above, plus

interest. A total of approximately $472,915.10 in net proceeds from the sale of the defendant real

property is currently in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.

Based on the above findings, and the Court being otherwise fully advised in the premises,

it is hereby 

ORDERED AND ADJUDGED:

1. The Court adopts the Stipulation for Final Judgment of Forfeiture entered into by and

between the parties to this action.

2. Upon entry of a Final Judgment of Forfeiture, $241,553.45 of the net sale proceeds

from the sale of the defendant real property, together with any interest that may have accrued on

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that amount, shall be forfeited to the United States pursuant to 21 U.S. C. § 881(a)(7), to be

disposed of according to law. 

3. Upon entry of a Final Judgment of Forfeiture herein, but no later than 45 days

thereafter, $128,534.25 (the payoff amount of one installment note), together with any interest

that may have accrued on that amount, shall be returned to claimant Rebecca Giauque through

her attorney, David M. Michael at the Law Offices of David M. Michael, 414 Gough, Suite 2,

San Francisco, California 94102. Upon entry of a Final Judgment of Forfeiture herein, but no

later than 45 days thereafter, $102,827.40 (the payoff amount of the lesser installment note),

together with any interest that may have accrued on that amount, shall be returned to claimants

Adrian Vasquez and Benjamin Lomax through their attorney of record, Ean Vizzi at 506

Broadway, San Francisco, California 94133. The United States makes no representation

regarding how these funds are to be divided between claimants Rebecca Giauque, Adrian

Vasquez and Benjamin Lomax. Claimants Rebecca Giauque, Adrian Vasquez and Benjamin

Lomax hold harmless and release the United States from any dispute arising from the subsequent

disposition of these assets.

4. Claimants Rebecca Giauque as conservator of the Estate of Chris Giauque, Adrian

Vasquez, and Benjamin Lomax hereby acknowledge that they are the sole owners of the

$231,361.65 being returned to them from the sale of the defendant real property and that no other

person or entity has any legitimate claim of interest therein. Should any person or entity institute

any kind of claim or action against the government with regard to its forfeiture of the

$241,553.45 of the $472,915.10 in net proceeds from the sale of the defendant real property,

Rebecca Giauque as conservator of the Estate of Chris Giauque, Adrian Vasquez and Benjamin

Lomax shall hold harmless and indemnify the United States.

5. Plaintiff United States of America and its servants, agents, and employees and all

other public entities, their servants, agents, and employees, are released from any and all liability

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arising out of or in any way connected with the posting, forfeiture, or sale of the defendant real

property and/or the net sale proceeds. This is a full and final release applying to all unknown and

unanticipated injuries, and/or damages arising out of said posting, forfeiture, or sale, as well as to

those now known or disclosed. Claimants Rebecca Giauque, Adrian Vasquez, and Benjamin

Lomax waive the provisions of California Civil Code § 1542, which provides: “A general

release does not extend to claims which the creditor does not know or suspect to exist in his

favor at the time of executing the release, which if known by him must have materially

affected his settlement with the debtor.”

6. There was reasonable cause for the posting of the defendant real property and that the

Court may enter a Certificate of Reasonable Cause pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2465.

7. All parties are to bear their own costs and attorneys’ fees.

SO ORDERED THIS 5th day of June , 2007.

 /s/ Oliver W. Wanger 

OLIVER W. WANGER

United States District Judge

CERTIFICATE OF REASONABLE CAUSE

Based upon the allegations set forth in the Verified Complaint for Forfeiture In Rem filed

April 12, 2006 and the Stipulation for Final Judgment of Forfeiture filed herein, the Court enters

this Certificate of Reasonable Cause pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2465, that there was reasonable

cause for the posting of the defendant real property located at 8500 Simmerly Rd., Covelo,

Mendocino County, California, APNs: 033-030-04-00, 033-040-33-00, 032-226-03-00, 032-226-

04-00, 032-226-05-00, Including all Appurtenances and Improvements Thereto.

Dated: 6/5/2007 

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 /s/ Oliver W. Wanger 

OLIVER W. WANGER

United States District Judge

EXHIBIT A

Real Property in the unincorporated area of the County of Mendocino, State of California,

described as follows:

TRACT ONE:

The West half of Lot 8 of Section 3, Township 22 North, Range 14 West, Mount Diablo

Meridian.

APN: 033-030-04

TRACT TWO:

Lots 3, 5, and 6 of Section 4, Township 22 North, Range 14 West, Mount Diablo Meridian.

APN: 033-040-33

TRACT THREE:

The Northeast quarter of the Northwest quarter, the South half of the Northwest quarter, the

North half of the Southwest quarter, the Southeast quarter of the Southwest quarter and the

Northwest quarter of the Southeast quarter of Section 33, Township 23 North, Range 14 West,

Mount Diablo Meridian.

Excepting therefrom the following:

Commencing at the center of Section 33, Township 23 North, Range 14 West, Mount Diablo

Meridian, and running thence East 400 feet; thence South 35 feet to the point of beginning of this

description; thence on the exterior boundaries of the parcel of land to be described, South 700

feet; thence East 250 feet; then North 700 feet; thence West 250 feet to the point of beginning. 

Being a portion of the Northwest quarter of the Southeast quarter of Section 33, Township 23

North, Range 14 West, Mount Diablo Meridian.

APN: 032-226-03,04

TRACT FOUR:

That portion of Section 33, Township 23 North, Range 14 West, Mount Diablo Base and

Meridian.

Commencing at the center of Section 33, Township 23 North, Range 14 West, Mount Diablo

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Meridian, and running thence East 400 feet; thence South 35 feet to the point of beginning of this

description; thence on the exterior boundaries of the parcel of land to be described, South 700

feet; thence East 250 feet; thence North 700 feet; thence West 250 feet to the point of beginning.

Being a portion of the Northwest quarter of the Southeast quarter of Section 33, Township 23

North, Range 14 West, Mount Diablo Meridian.

APN: 32-226-05

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