Opinion ID: 591489
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Nnadi's Assertion of Her Rights

Text: 26 The third factor in the $8850 balancing test requires that claimant show that she diligently asserted her rights to a prompt post-seizure hearing. Nnadi has made no such showing, and in fact has shown that she willfully avoided the appropriate channels. If Nnadi had filed the appropriate claim with the Customs Service, the customs officer would have been obligated under section 1603(b) to refer the matter to the United States attorney. Section 1604 then obligates the United States attorney to cause the proper proceedings to be commenced and prosecuted in the appropriate district court. 19 U.S.C. § 1604. In addition, a claimant may speed up civil forfeiture proceedings by (1) filing an equitable claim seeking an order compelling the filing of the forfeiture action or return of the seized property, or (2) requesting that the Customs Service refer the matter to the United States attorney. $8850, 461 U.S. at 567, 103 S.Ct. at 2014. Nnadi and her lawyer had actual knowledge of a seizure by the Customs Service but failed to protest the seizure through any of the above mentioned channels. Not until March 6, 1992, two days after the appeal to this court, did she file, for the first time, a claim in the administrative forfeiture action which led, pursuant to sections 1603 and 1604 to an action being filed in district court on May 2. Consequently, it is clear that any significant delay has resulted from Nnadi's failure to exercise her rights in a timely fashion rather than from the government's failure to pursue prompt settlement of Nnadi's claims.