Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_07-cv-01405/USCOURTS-caed-2_07-cv-01405-1/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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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, ) 2:07-01405 WBS/EFB

 ) 

Plaintiff, ) STIPULATION TO CONTINUE

 ) STATUS CONFERENCE AND 

v. ) ORDER THEREON [PROPOSED]

 ) (Corrected)

REAL PROPERTY LOCATED AT 80 )

COON CREEK ROAD aka LOT 0-21, ) 

COON CREEK ROAD, BURNT RANCH, )

CALIFORNIA, TRINITY COUNTY, )

APN: 008-770-11-000, INCLUDING )

ALL APPURTENANCES AND )

IMPROVEMENTS THERETO, ) DATE: October 9, 2007

 ) TIME: 2 p.m.

 Defendant. ) COURTROOM: 5 )

Plaintiff United States of America and claimant Roy Gazaway

jointly request that the status conference now scheduled for

October 9, 2007, be continued approximately 60 days. This

request is based on the following:

1. This is an in rem action in which the plaintiff seeks

to forfeit the defendant property because it was being used to

manufacture marijuana in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841)(a)(1) and

is therefore forfeitable pursuant to 21 U.S.C. § 881(a)(7).

2. Claimant Roy Gazaway is the beneficiary of a promissory

Case 2:07-cv-01405-WBS-EFB Document 11 Filed 09/26/07 Page 1 of 3
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note in the original principal amount of $103,142.00 executed by

Ronald Dale Nortrup and his wife Jeanne Nortrup. The note is

secured by a deed of trust encumbering the defendant property.

3. Plaintiff made multiple attempts to personally serve

the Verified Complaint for Forfeiture In Rem and related

documents on the Northrups but were unsuccessful. Thereafter, on

August 23, 2007, plaintiff sent the Complaint and related

documents to the Northrups by certified mail but Ronald Nortrup’s

mail was returned to plaintiff as unclaimed. The “Domestic

Return Receipt” (the “green card”) for the mail sent to Jeanne

Nortrup shows that “Jeanne Bass” signed for Jeanne Nortrup’s mail

on August 29, 2007.

4. After making unsuccessful attempts to serve Ronald

Nortrup, plaintiff learned that Nortrup is in state custody in

High Desert State Prison in Susanville, California. Accordingly,

on September 13, 2007, plaintiff re-sent the Complaint and

related documents by certified mail to Nortrup in prison and to

Ben Okin, an attorney in Weaverville, California, believed to be

representing Nortrup. The “green cards” show that Okin received

the documents on September 17, 2007, and the documents were

received at the prison on September 15, 2007.

5. Under the rules applicable to in rem forfeiture

actions, Ronald Nortrup has 35 days from September 13, 2007, to

file a claim to the property, and has 20 days after filing his

claim to file an Answer to the complaint. His claim is thus not

due until October 18, 2007, and his answer can be filed as long

as 20 days thereafter. See Rule G(5) of the Supplemental Rules

for Admiralty or Maritime Claims and Asset Forfeiture Actions. 

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Under these rules, Jeanne Nortrup’s claim is not due until

September 27, 2007, and her answer is due 20 days thereafter.

6. Since the time for filing claims and answers in this

action has not yet expired, it is premature to have a status

conference and schedule this case. Accordingly, the parties to

this stipulation request that the status conference be continued

approximately 60 days. 

Dated: Sept. 25, 2007 McGREGOR W. SCOTT

United States Attorney

By /s/ Kristin S. Door KRISTIN S. DOOR

Assistant U.S. Attorney

Attorneys for plaintiff

United States of America

Dated: Sept. 25, 2007 MORRISON, MORRISON & COOPER

By /s/ Daniel E. Cooper DANIEL E. COOPER

Attorneys for claimant

Roy L. Gazaway

ORDER

Good cause having been shown, the status conference

scheduled for October 9, 2007, is continued to December 17, 2007

at 2:00 p.m.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: September 25, 2007

Case 2:07-cv-01405-WBS-EFB Document 11 Filed 09/26/07 Page 3 of 3