Document ID: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-4_06-cv-07527/USCOURTS-cand-4_06-cv-07527-0/pdf.json

Parties Involved:
$164,265 in United States Currency
Defendant
United States of America
Plaintiff

Document Text:

United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

Plaintiff, No. C 06-7527 PJH

v. ORDER GRANTING MOTION FOR

DEFAULT JUDGMENT

$164,265 IN UNITED STATES

CURRENCY

Defendant.

_______________________________/

Plaintiff United States of America seeks an order of default judgment in the above

entitled action, pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 55(a), declaring that the

defendant currency is defaulted to the United States. Having read the plaintiff’s papers and

carefully considered the arguments and the relevant legal authority, the court hereby

GRANTS the motion.

Plaintiff commenced this action on December 7, 2006, with the filing of a complaint

of forfeiture. Plaintiff alleged that the defendant currency was subject to forfeiture, pursuant

to 21 U.S.C. § 881(a)(6), as proceeds traceable to narcotics transactions, or other things of

value furnished in exchange for a controlled substance, and all moneys used or intended to

be used to facilitate a narcotics transaction in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841 and 846.

On December 7, 2006, copies of the complaint and notice of forfeiture action were

Case 4:06-cv-07527-PJH Document 11 Filed 03/16/07 Page 1 of 3
United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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 The Admiralty and Maritime Local Rules apply to “forfeiture proceedings analogous

to maritime actions in rem.” Admir. L.R. 1-2.

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served on Richard Bruce Nall and his attorney Chris Andrian, Roxie Nall, and Seth Russell,

the parties known to have an interest in the defendant currency. 

A notice of forfeiture action was published in The Recorder, a daily newspaper of

general circulation in the San Francisco Bay Area, on December 13, December 20, and

December 27, 2006. 

On January 11, 2007, the office of the U.S. Attorney for this judicial district received

a letter from Richard Bruce Nall’s attorney Chris Andrian, stating that Mr. Nall had decided

not to file a response to the present forfeiture action.

A clerk’s default was entered on March 1, 2007. To date, no claims or answers have

been filed in this action.

The court finds that plaintiff’s motion should be granted. Rule 6-2 of the Admiralty

Local Rules sets forth the procedures for seeking a default judgment in an in rem action.1

(a) Notice Required. A party seeking a default judgment in an action in

rem must show that due notice of the action and arrest of the property has

been given:

(1) By publication as required in FRCivP Supp C(4);

(2) By service upon the . . . person having custody of the property; 

and 

(3) By service under FRCivP5(b) upon every other person who has 

not appeared in the action and is known to have an interest in the

property.

Admir. L.R. 6-1(a)

After the time for filing an answer has expired, the plaintiff may apply for entry

of default under FRCivP 55(a). Judgment may be entered under FRCivP

55(b) at any time after default has been entered. Default will be entered upon

a showing that:

(a) Notice has been given as required by Admir. L.R. 6-1;

(b) The time to answer has expired; and 

(c) No one has filed a verified statement or right or interest in the property.

Case 4:06-cv-07527-PJH Document 11 Filed 03/16/07 Page 2 of 3
United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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Admir. L.R. 6-2.

The court finds that plaintiff complied with the requirements for notice by publishing

notice of action in The Recorder, and by serving copies of the complaint and notice on the

parties known to have an interest in the defendant currency; and that no person has filed a

claim to the defendant currency. 

Accordingly, default judgment shall be entered in this action.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: March 15, 2007 ______________________________

PHYLLIS J. HAMILTON

United States District Judge

Case 4:06-cv-07527-PJH Document 11 Filed 03/16/07 Page 3 of 3