Opinion ID: 572420
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Standing After Disclaimer of Property

Text: 12 Though the district court did not reach the issue, Torres's lack of standing to assert a privacy interest in the contents of the shoulder bag after she disclaimed ownership constitutes an independent ground for reversal of the suppression order. We are well aware that under some circumstances a challenge to standing may be waived if the government fails to raise it. Steagald v. United States, 451 U.S. 204, 209, 101 S.Ct. 1642, 1646, 68 L.Ed.2d 38 (1981); United States v. Garcia, 882 F.2d 699, 701-02 (2d Cir.), cert. denied, 493 U.S. 943, 110 S.Ct. 348, 107 L.Ed.2d 336 (1989); United States v. Persico, 832 F.2d 705, 714-15 n. 2 (2d Cir.1987), cert. denied, 486 U.S. 1022, 108 S.Ct. 1995, 1996, 100 L.Ed.2d 227 (1988). In this case, however, the government did challenge Torres's standing to assert a privacy interest after abandoning the shoulder bag. Though the facts support an inference of disclaimer rather than abandonment, the fundamental challenge to standing was clearly preserved. 13 It is well settled that an otherwise legitimate privacy interest may be lost by disclaiming or abandoning property, especially when actions or statements disavow any expectation of privacy. See, e.g., Abel v. United States, 362 U.S. 217, 80 S.Ct. 683, 4 L.Ed.2d 668 (1960) (abandoned property); Springer, at 1017; United States v. Frazier, 936 F.2d 262 (6th Cir.1991) (disclaimed bag); United States v. Ruiz, 935 F.2d 982 (8th Cir.1991) (disclaimed suitcases not in possession); United States v. Sweeting, 933 F.2d 962 (11th Cir.1991) (disclaimed weapons in mother's house); United States v. Lee, 916 F.2d 814 (2d Cir.1990) (abandoned bag); United States v. Monie, 907 F.2d 793 (8th Cir.1990) (disclaimed suitcases in defendant's possession). Neither possession nor ownership of property establishes a legitimate expectation of privacy unless the party vigilantly protects the right to exclude others. United States v. Salvucci, 448 U.S. 83, 90-93, 100 S.Ct. 2547, 2552-54, 65 L.Ed.2d 619 (1980); United States v. Rahme, 813 F.2d 31, 34-35 (2d Cir.1987). 14 Torres made repeated statements that the shoulder bag did not belong to her but to her mother. She also disclaimed any knowledge of its contents and expressed indifference about the exclusion of others when asked for consent to a search. Thus, she lacked standing to assert a protected privacy interest. Cf. Rahme, 813 F.2d at 34-35 (affirming judgment that defendant lacked standing to challenge search of bags left room for which rent was overdue). 15 Reversed.