Opinion ID: 419209
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Seizure of the Automobile

Text: 18 Webb asserts that forfeiture of the automobile is improper because it was not properly seized by either the state or the federal authorities. Webb alleges that the state warrant pursuant to which the Los Angeles Police Department officers seized her automobile was illegally obtained because it was supported by two federal presentence reports of Mr. Reese from prior drug offenses improperly provided to the local officers. She argues that the federal seizure was improper because it was done without a warrant and without due process. Finally, she asserts that the proper remedy for the illegal seizure is dismissal of the forfeiture action. 19 We need not decide whether Webb's contentions concerning the validity of the seizures of the automobile have merit because the mere fact of the illegal seizure, standing alone, does not immunize the goods from forfeiture. United States v. One 1971 Harley-Davidson Motorcycle, 508 F.2d 351, 351 (9 Cir.1974) (per curiam) (quoting John Bacall Imports, Ltd. v. United States, 412 F.2d 586, 588 (9th Cir.1969)). In One Harley-Davidson, the Government had seized a motorcycle for forfeiture without a warrant under circumstances that were admittedly illegal. The court found that any evidence which is the product of an illegal search or seizure must be excluded at trial, but that forfeiture may proceed if the Government can satisfy the requirements for forfeiture with untainted evidence. This position was recently reaffirmed in United States v. An Article of Drug, 661 F.2d 742, 745 (9th Cir.1981) (per curiam). 20 In the present case, because the cocaine was not seized in violation of Webb's fourth amendment rights, there is sufficient untainted evidence to establish probable cause for forfeiture of the automobile. Any improper conduct in seizing the automobile is thus irrelevant to the power of the Government to subject Webb's automobile to forfeiture. 21 Webb also raises a jurisdictional issue. 5 She argues that because forfeiture is in rem, the district court's jurisdiction rests on seizure of the res. She reasons that if the res, the automobile, was improperly before the court, then the court had no jurisdiction to order the automobile forfeited. One Harley-Davidson also disposes of this argument. The court in that case clearly rejected an argument that an object illegally seized cannot in any way be used ... as the basis for in rem jurisdiction. 508 F.2d at 351 (emphasis in the original). This holding is supported by Dodge v. United States, 272 U.S. 530, 47 S.Ct. 191, 71 L.Ed. 392 (1926). In Dodge, the Supreme Court held that, despite an improper seizure, [t]he jurisdiction of the Court was secured by the fact that the res was in the possession of the [party authorized to seize] when the libel was filed. 272 U.S. at 532, 47 S.Ct. at 192 (citation omitted). We hold, therefore, that the jurisdiction of the trial court was proper despite any irregularities in the seizure of the automobile. 6