Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_09-cv-01937/USCOURTS-caed-2_09-cv-01937-2/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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1 JOINT STATUS (PRETRIAL 

SCHEDULING) REPORT; 

REQUEST FOR STAY 

LAWRENCE G. BROWN

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, ) 2:09-cv-1937 GEB-KJM

 )

Plaintiff, ) JOINT STATUS (PRETRIAL

 ) SCHEDULING) REPORT AND

v. ) REQUEST FOR STAY AND

 ) ORDER

REAL PROPERTY LOCATED AT 17 )

COON CREEK ROAD, HAWKINS BAR, ) DATE: October 19, 2009

CALIFORNIA, TRINITY COUNTY, ) TIME: 9:00 a.m.

APN: 008-760-12, INCLUDING ) COURTROOM: 10

ALL APPURTENANCES AND ) 

IMPROVEMENTS THERETO, ) 

 ) 

Defendant. )

 )

The plaintiff United States of America and claimants Byron

Pickle (the property owner) and Leung and Betty Chinn

(lienholder) submit the following Status Report, Request for

Stay, and Order [Proposed] pursuant to this Court's July 16,

2009, order:

a. Service:

The forfeiture complaint in rem was served on all

individuals and entities believed to have an interest in the

Case 2:09-cv-01937-GEB-DB Document 19 Filed 10/07/09 Page 1 of 7
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2 JOINT STATUS (PRETRIAL 

SCHEDULING) REPORT; 

REQUEST FOR STAY 

defendant property. Specifically, the recorded owner of the

property, Byron Pickle,,and lienholders Leung and Betty Chinn, 

were served. 

In addition, in accordance with the Order for Publication

signed on July 20, 2009, notice of this action was published on

the official internet government website, www.forfeiture.gov, for

30 consecutive days. The Declaration of Publication was filed on

September 21, 2009. 

b. Possible joinder of additional parties:

The parties do not anticipate joining additional parties.

However, it is possible that another individual who was not

served with the complaint, but who sees the published notice of

forfeiture, may still file a claim and answer. Under Rule

G(5)(a)(ii)(B) of the Supplemental Rules for Admiralty or

Maritime Claims and Asset Forfeiture Actions, an individual

(other than one who has been served with the complaint) who sees

the published notice of forfeiture has 30 days from the last

publication date to file a claim to the property. Accordingly,

it is possible that another person could become a party in this

action since the last publication date was September 17, 2009. 

c. Any expected or desired amendment of pleadings:

None anticipated at this time.

d. Jurisdiction and venue:

This Court has jurisdiction in this matter pursuant to 28

U.S.C. §§ 1345 and 1355. This Court has venue pursuant to 28

U.S.C. § 1395.

Case 2:09-cv-01937-GEB-DB Document 19 Filed 10/07/09 Page 2 of 7
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3 JOINT STATUS (PRETRIAL 

SCHEDULING) REPORT; 

REQUEST FOR STAY 

e. Anticipated motions and suggested dates:

The parties requests that this case not be scheduled at this

time because they are requesting a stay of further proceedings

for six months as explained in the following paragraph. 

This case, and the related case (U.S. Real Property, 1 Mile

Up Hennessey Road, et al., 2:09-cv-1940 GEB-KJM) arose out of an

investigation in Trinity County involving claimant Byron Pickle

and two relatives, Thomas and James Pickle. Local law

enforcement officers executed a state search warrant at the

defendant property and found 54 pounds of processed marijuana,

364 marijuana plants, approximately $10,000 in cash, and

packaging material. Officers found about 45 pounds of processed

marijuana, approximately $60,000 in cash, packaging materials,

and multiple firearms when they executed a state search warrant

at the Hennessey Road property. 

The Trinity County District Attorney has filed state drug

charges against Thomas and James Pickle. The investigation

against claimant Byron Pickle is ongoing. 

Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. §§ 981(g)(1) and 21 U.S.C. § 881(i)

the parties suggests 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. The United States intends to depose claimant 

about Byron Pickle about the claim he filed in this case and the

facts surrounding the cultivation of marijuana plants on this

property. If discovery proceeds, claimant would be placed in the

Case 2:09-cv-01937-GEB-DB Document 19 Filed 10/07/09 Page 3 of 7
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4 JOINT STATUS (PRETRIAL 

SCHEDULING) REPORT; 

REQUEST FOR STAY 

difficult position of either invoking his Fifth Amendment right

against self-incrimination and losing the ability to protect his

alleged interest in the defendant property, or waiving his Fifth

Amendment rights and submitting to depositions and potentially

incriminating himself in the pending criminal matter. If

claimant invokes his Fifth Amendment rights, the United States

will be deprived of the ability to explore the factual basis for

the claim he filed in this action and the defenses raised in his

Answer. 

In addition, the government anticipates that claimant will

attempt to depose law enforcement officers who were involved in

the execution of the state search warrant at the defendant

property. Allowing depositions of these officers would adversely

affect the ability of the Trinity County officials 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 claimant’s ability to prove his claim to the property and to

contest the government's allegations that the property is

forfeitable. For these reasons, the parties request that this

matter be stayed for a period of six months, or until further

court order or further court-approved stipulation by the parties. 

At that time the parties will advise the Court whether a further

stay is necessary.

f. Anticipated and outstanding discovery:

(1) What changes should be made in the timing,

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5 JOINT STATUS (PRETRIAL 

SCHEDULING) REPORT; 

REQUEST FOR STAY 

form, or requirement for disclosures under

Rule 26(a), including a statement as to when

disclosures under subdivision (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 should be made in the

limitations on discovery imposed under the

Federal Rules of Civil Procedure of the Local

Rules, and what other limitations should be

imposed:

As of the December 1, 2006, amendments to Rule 26 of the

Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, civil forfeiture actions are

now exempt from the initial disclosure requirements applicable to

most other civil actions. See Fed.R.Civ.P. 26(a)(1)(B)(ii).

As noted above, the parties request that discovery in this

case be stayed for six months. 

g. Scheduling of future proceedings, including

suggested timing of the disclosure of expert

witnesses and information required by Rule

26(a)(2), completion dates for discovery and

law and motion, and dates for final pretrial

conference and trial:

In light of the request to stay further proceedings for six

months, the parties suggests that the case not be scheduled at

this time. 

i. Estimate of trial time:

Plaintiff estimates that a trial of this matter would take

no more than 3 days. 

j. Appropriateness of special procedures:

Not applicable.

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6 JOINT STATUS (PRETRIAL 

SCHEDULING) REPORT; 

REQUEST FOR STAY 

k. Modification of standard pretrial procedures

because of the relative simplicity or

complexity of the action or proceedings:

Not applicable.

l. Whether the case is related to any other

case, including any matters in bankruptcy:

This case is related to U.S. Real Property, 1 Mile Up

Hennessey Road, et al., 2:09-cv-1940 GEB-KJM. A Notice of

Related Cases was filed on July 17, 2009. 

m. Prospects for settlement:

None at this time. 

 n. Any other matters that may add to the just

and expeditious disposition of this matter:

None.

DATED: October 5, 2009 LAWRENCE G. BROWN 

United States Attorney

By: /s/ Kristin S. Door 

KRISTIN S. DOOR

Assistant U.S. Attorney

Attorneys for plaintiff

United States of America

DATED: October 5, 2009

By: /s/ Editte Lerman 

EDITTE LERMAN

Attorney for claimant

Byron Pickle

DATED: October 5, 2009 LAW OFFICES OF DAVID

MICHAEL

By: /s/ Edward M. Burch 

EDWARD M. BURCH

Attorneys for claimants

Leung Chinn and Betty K. Chinn

 

(Original signatures retained 

by AUSA Door) 

Case 2:09-cv-01937-GEB-DB Document 19 Filed 10/07/09 Page 6 of 7
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7 JOINT STATUS (PRETRIAL 

SCHEDULING) REPORT; 

REQUEST FOR STAY 

ORDER

For the reasons set forth above, this matter is stayed

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

§ 881(i) for six months, or until further court order or further

court-approved stipulation by the parties. The pretrial

scheduling conference, currently set for October 19, 2009, is

rescheduled for May 10, 2010, at 9:00 a.m. A joint status report

is to be filed fourteen days prior to the hearing.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: October 7, 2009

 

GARLAND E. BURRELL, JR.

United States District Judge

Case 2:09-cv-01937-GEB-DB Document 19 Filed 10/07/09 Page 7 of 7