Opinion ID: 393982
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: the navy payment

Text: 39 Than also sought declaratory relief that $29,975.44 which he received indirectly from the Navy through a Vietnamese contractor should not be placed into a blocked account. As noted above, in denying Than's application for an unblocking license, the Secretary stated that the Navy payments must be traced and placed into blocked accounts. The Secretary did not file a counterclaim to Than's suit seeking relief with respect to the Navy funds and Than has not applied for a license with respect to those funds. 40 In granting the government's motion for summary judgment the district court concluded that the actions of the Secretary in blocking the United States based assets of the Bank and declining to issue an unblocking license were within his authority. Tran Qui Than v. Blumenthal, 469 F.Supp. 1202, 1212 (N.D.Cal.1979). Arguably, the judgment for the government means that the Navy funds must be placed into blocked accounts. The district court decision, however, is ambiguous on this point. We therefore, remand the case to the district court for a determination of whether the Navy funds must be placed into a blocked account. 41 We note that on remand the district court must determine not only whether the funds should be blocked, but if so, what amount of the payment, if any, is subject to blocking. Only a portion of the Navy payment was ultimately kept by Than. There are, therefore, equitable considerations as to whether Than should be responsible for tracing any or all of those funds. Moreover, because these funds were paid to the Vietnamese contractor by the Navy without any notification whatsoever that the funds were subject to being blocked, and because the payment was made several years ago, there may be a question of whether the government attempt to now block those funds is barred by laches. 42 The judgment of the district court is AFFIRMED in part and REMANDED in part for consideration consistent with this opinion.