Opinion ID: 75596
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: District Court’s Equitable Jurisdiction

Text: The government contends that even if Potes Ramirez’s Rule 41(e) motion is treated as a civil proceeding for equitable relief and his notice of appeal was timely under Rule 4(a)(1)(B)(i), the district court correctly denied Potes Ramirez’s motion because the property sought in his motion had been destroyed.8 When, as here, a Rule 41(e) motion is filed after criminal proceedings have terminated, “the person from whom the property was seized is presumed to have a right to its return, and the government must demonstrate that it has a legitimate reason to retain the property.” United States v. Chambers, 192 F.3d 374, 377 (3rd Cir. 1999). Although the government alleges in its pleadings that the property sought by Potes Ramirez was destroyed, these pleadings are not verified and no supporting affidavits have been filed. There is no evidence in the record that Potes 7 Because Potes Ramirez’s notice of appeal was filed 57 days after the district court’s order dated January 18, 2000, denying his Rule 41(e) motion, we need not consider the effect, if any, of his motion for reconsideration. 8 We review de novo a district court’s denial of a Rule 41(e) motion for return of property. See United States v. Castro, 883 F.2d 1018, 1019 (11th Cir. 1989). We also review de novo a district court's determination that it lacks the authority to exercise equitable jurisdiction. See Martinez, 241 F.3d at 1330. 6 Ramirez’s property was destroyed. Therefore the government has not met its burden in this case, and the district court was incorrect to deny Potes Ramirez’s motion without requiring the government to submit at least some evidence of the property’s destruction. See, e.g., id. at 377–78 (“The government must do more than state, without documentary support, that it no longer possesses the property at issue.”); Mora v. United States, 955 F.2d 156, 158 (2d Cir. 1992) (“Research has revealed no authority for the proposition that a district court must rely on a representation, made by the government or any other litigant for that matter. Instead, in making a determination, a trial court must rely on the evidence before it.”). We leave it to the district court’s discretion on remand to determine how the government should present evidence of the property’s destruction. Even if the district court determines upon remand based on evidence presented by the government that Potes Ramirez’s property has been destroyed, this Court has held that a district court can exercise equitable jurisdiction over a Rule 41(e) motion filed after the termination of criminal proceedings. See United States v. Martinez, 241 F.3d 1329, 1330 (11th Cir. 2001) (holding that “the district court could have asserted equitable jurisdiction over Martinez’s motion for return of his property”). In its briefs on appeal, the government contends that even if a district court has authority to exercise equitable jurisdiction over a Rule 41(e) motion filed after the termination of criminal proceedings, the district court should not exercise its equitable jurisdiction in this case because Potes Ramirez delayed more than four 7 years before requesting the return of the seized items. While the doctrine of laches is pertinent and should be considered, we leave it to the district court to consider it in the first instance, as well as whether Potes Ramirez is entitled to an equitable remedy. If the district court finds that Potes Ramirez’s claim is not barred by laches and that an equitable remedy is appropriate, then the court has authority to fashion equitable relief. In the context of Rule 41(e) motions, several circuit courts have remarked on a district court’s authority to fashion an equitable remedy, when appropriate, even if the property at issue has been lost or destroyed. See, e.g., Thompson v. Covington, 47 F.3d 974, 975 (8th Cir. 1995) (noting that because the court has power to fashion equitable relief, “the case is not mooted by the government’s assertion that it cannot find Thompson’s property”); Mora, 955 F.2d at 159 (noting that “[a]ssuming the property is gone, the question then is what relief may be granted”); Martinson, 809 F.2d at 1367–68 (“It is the historic purpose of equity to secure complete justice. The courts will be alert to adjust their remedies so as to grant the necessary relief.”) (citations omitted).