Opinion ID: 702320
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Whether the Abstract of Judgment is a Cloud on Title

Text: 15 The Co-Executors also argue that, regardless of their own ability to enforce a lien against Auclair's homestead property, the district court wrongfully denied them a judicial declaration that their abstract of judgment did not constitute a cloud on the title to Auclair's property. Their contention is based on the assumption that, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Sec. 3613, a lien arose in favor of the United States which the government could, at a future time, enforce against Auclair's otherwise exempt homestead property. 3 Because the government could theoretically enforce this lien against Auclair's property, the Co-Executors argue, the lien is valid and cannot constitute a cloud on Auclair's title. As an additional matter, the Co-Executors assert that it is immaterial whether the government or the Co-Executors themselves filed an abstract of judgment to give notice of this lien. The Co-Executors reason that, if the government delays evidencing its lien against Auclair's property in the deed records, a private beneficiary of a restitution award should be allowed to evidence the lien by filing an abstract of judgment in the deed records. 16 In its grant of summary judgment for Auclair, the district court did not directly address the issue of whether the Co-Executors' abstract of judgment was a cloud on Auclair's title. In granting summary judgment and denying the Co-Executors' counterclaim for declaratory judgment, however, the district court implied that the abstract of judgment was a cloud on Auclair's title. Because the district court did not explicitly address this issue in the first instance, we think it advisable to vacate the district court's grant of summary judgment with regard to the issue and remand it for further consideration. 4 We intimate no opinion on the merits of the issue.