Court Opinion

ID: 9482681
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-05 08:57:21.051746+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:49:08.218244
License: Public Domain

FARRIS, Circuit Judge,
dissenting:
The majority’s opinion focuses on what it calls the government’s “poor investigation” and “unreasonable delay.” Because I believe the government adequately demonstrated a reasonable justification for its actions, I "respectfully dissent.
The Equal Access to Justice Act seeks to punjsh unreasonable government behavior without impairing the government’s.ability to effectively and efficiently enforce the nation’s, laws. United States v. B & M Used Cars, 860 F.2d 121, 124 (4th Cir.1988). The government must pass the four part test established by the Supreme Court: 1) length of delay; 2) reason for delay; 3) defendant’s, assertion of right; and 4) prejudice to the defendant. United States v. $8,850, 461 U.S. 555, 564-65, 103 S.Ct. 2005, 2012, 76 L.Ed.2d 143 (1983). The majority believes that the government violated all four parts of this test. ■ We must “look to the record of both the underlying government conduct at issue and the totality of circumstances present before and during litigation.” Barry v. Bowen, 825 F.2d 1324, 1330 (9th Cir.1987). Appropriate review of the government’s actions indicate (in my opinion) that the district court and the magistrate abused their discretion.
It is undisputed that the government was substantially justified in initiating forfeiture proceedings against the $12,248.00 of currency seized from Johnson’s house. Although the magistrate later found in favor of the claimant, that fact alone does not warrant the award of attorney’s fees. “[A] position can be justified even though it is not correct, and we believe it can be substantially justified if a reasonable person could think it correct.” Pierce v. Underwood, 487 U.S. 552, 566 n. 2,108 S.Ct. 2541, 2550 n. 2, 101 L.Ed.2d 490 (1988). This *1522standard is no different than the “reasonable basis in law and fact” standard long adopted by the Ninth Circuit. Id. at 565, 108 S.Ct. at 2550. The government had a reasonable basis to believe that the currency was related to narcotics and that forfeiture was appropriate under 21 U.S.C. § 881(a)(6). Punishing the government for making, at worst, a reasonable mistake, is not the purpose of the EAJA.
The majority observed that the government’s 15-month delay before instituting forfeiture proceedings was a significant factor in awarding attorney’s fees. The government’s position was justifiable under the EAJA. The government, quite reasonably, did not institute forfeiture proceedings against the defendant until it completed its criminal case. The defendant pleaded guilty to cocaine possession on November 18, 1986. The government initiated formal proceedings less than one month later. The delay that occurred following the completion of the criminal proceedings was minimal, and less than the two month delay held reasonable in $8,850. Id. 461 U.S. at 565-69, 108 S.Ct. at 2012-14. ,
. Further, the government could reasonably. believe that the 15-month delay did not violate Johnson’s due process rights. In $8,850, the Supreme Court upheld a forfeiture with an 18-month delay, between the time of seizure and forfeiture proceedings. Id. at 569-70, 103 S.Ct. at 2014-15. The delay fails to support the attorney fee award.
The majority finds it significant that the government failed to detail with preciseness the exact reason for the delay. The Assistant United States Attorney was asked three years after the initiation of the proceedings why the government waited fifteen months-to institute the forfeiture proceedings. The prosecutor gave what he assumed was the reason. I am not suggesting that the government be allowed in all cases to plead ignorance when asked about delays. However, in these particular circumstances, references to practices of the office was sufficient if the reason was sound. It was.
The prosecutor indicated that the filing may have been delayed until resolution of the underlying criminal case against Johnson. He stated that he preferred to make the determination whether a forfeiture complaint should be filed after the underlying criminal proceedings had been resolved. A. pending criminal action justifies significant delays in the civil forfeiture proceedings. Id. at 567, 103 S.Ct. at 2013; see also United States v. $47,980 in Canadian Currency, 804 F.2d 1085, 1088-89 (9th Cir.1986), cert. denied, BSP Invest. & Dev., Ltd. v. United States, 481 U.S. 1072, 107 S.Ct. 2469, 95 L.Ed.2d 878 (1987) (observing that a criminal conviction may result in forfeiture, rendering civil proceedings unnecessary).
Although the majority correctly notes that the loss of a potential witness is potentially prejudicial, Johnson was able to prove that the money had an innocent source. The court ruled in his favor.
Thé majority’s emphasis on the length of time the money was held is misplaced. We noted in Ivers v. United States, 581 F.2d 1362, 1373 (9th Cir.1978), that mere possession of currency by the government is not prejudicial because any lost value can be restored by the addition of interest during the time the government withheld the currency. The majority’s argument that delay must lead to a finding of prejudice is inconsistent with our prior decisions which can only be overturned by an en banc proceeding.
The 15-month delay was not unreasonable under these circumstances. I would hold that the government established probable cause for initiating the forfeiture and its position was substantially justified. See United States v. One 1985 Chevrolet Corvette, 914 F.2d 804, 809 (6th Cir.1990).
The award of attorney’s fees should be reversed.