Opinion ID: 77422
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: The Vacant Lot

Text: 22 Lynn Soreide contends that the forfeiture of the vacant lot violated her rights to due process. She contends that she had no knowledge, before the final order of forfeiture, that the vacant lot might be forfeited. More specifically, she contends that the vacant lot was not mentioned in any of the petitions or in the pleadings relating to summary judgment and that it was added into the final order of forfeiture  literally without prior notice or an opportunity to be heard. (Appellant's Opening Brief at 24). The Government contends that Lynn Soreide had sufficient notice of the vacant lot's impending forfeiture because she herself raised the issue of her interest in that property in her first petition for an ancillary proceeding. 23 Contrary to Lynn Soreide's contentions on appeal, review of the record demonstrates that she had not only notice but actual knowledge that the vacant lot might be forfeited. Indeed, as the Government points out, Lynn Soreide's first petition identified the vacant lot and set forth the facts surrounding its purchase, in the same way as the petition discussed the properties listed in the district court's preliminary order of forfeiture. And, the Government's motion for summary judgment discussed the vacant lot and argued that Lynn Soreide had no interest in that property that might prevent forfeiture. (Appeal No. 05-15344, R.3-207 at 6-7.) Lynn Soreide's response to that motion for summary judgment reiterated her claim to an interest in the vacant lot but did not complain that the vacant lot was not a proper subject of forfeiture because it was not listed in any preliminary order of forfeiture. (R.3-231 at 5.) Finally, before the final order of forfeiture was entered, the district court granted the Government's motion for summary judgment in an order that discussed the vacant lot and found that Lynn Soreide had no interest in that property that would prevent forfeiture. (R.3-236 at 7.) 24 In short, the record demonstrates that Lynn Soreide's due process rights were not violated with respect to the forfeiture of the vacant lot. She had notice that the vacant lot was at issue in the ancillary proceeding and presented arguments to the district court as to why that property should not be forfeited to the United States. These arguments were considered and rejected by the district court.