Opinion ID: 664157
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Particularity of the Complaint.

Text: 65 The Supplemental Rules require that a forfeiture complaint state the circumstances from which the claim arises with such particularity that the defendant or claimant will be able, without moving for a more definite statement, to commence an investigation of the facts and to frame a responsive pleading. Fed.R.Civ.P. E(2)(a). Failure to comply with Supplemental Rule E(2)(a)'s particularity requirements may result in a dismissal of the complaint without prejudice. See United States v. Four Parcels of Real Property in Greene & Tuscaloosa Counties, 941 F.2d 1428, 1440 n. 28 (11th Cir.1991); United States v. Pole No. 3172, Hopkinton, 852 F.2d 636, 638 (1st Cir.1988). 66 Although Nitsua argues that the government's second amended complaint did not set forth the basis for forfeiting the subject properties with sufficient particularity, Nitsua does not seek to have the complaint dismissed. Rather, Nitsua argues that the government's failure to comply with Supplemental Rule E(2)(a) should relieve Nitsua of Supplemental Rule C(6)'s time requirements for filing a claim and answer. 67 While some courts have held that a claimant is not bound by the time requirements in Supplemental Rule C(6) when the government fails to execute process correctly, see, e.g., United States v. $84,740.00 U.S. Currency, 900 F.2d 1402, 1406 (9th Cir.1990); United States v. $38,000.00 in U.S. Currency, 816 F.2d 1538, 1545, 1547 (11th Cir.1987), Nitsua cites no authority, and we have found none, suggesting that the government's failure to comply with the particularity requirements of Rule E(2)(a) constitutes a failure to execute process correctly. Nor does Nitsua cite any authority holding that the provisions of Rule E(2)(a) are jurisdictional and, therefore, can be raised at any time. 68 Because the failure to comply with nonjurisdictional pleading requirements ordinarily is waived if not objected to in a timely fashion, see, e.g., Fed.R.Civ.P. 12(b), we must first determine whether the district court properly denied Nitsua's motion to file a late claim and answer, before deciding whether Nitsua may challenge the particularity of the allegations in the complaint. If the district court did not err in denying Nitsua's motion to file a late claim and answer, then we need not address whether the complaint stated the circumstances from which the forfeiture claim arose with sufficient particularity. 69