Court Opinion

ID: 4211887
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2017-10-16 14:10:06.565228+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:40:56.088412
License: Public Domain

NOT FOR PUBLICATION WITHOUT THE
                      APPROVAL OF THE APPELLATE DIVISION
     This opinion shall not "constitute precedent or be binding upon any court."
      Although it is posted on the internet, this opinion is binding only on the
        parties in the case and its use in other cases is limited. R. 1:36-3.

                                       SUPERIOR COURT OF NEW JERSEY
                                       APPELLATE DIVISION
                                       DOCKET NO. A-3653-14T1

STATE OF NEW JERSEY,

        Plaintiff-Respondent,

v.

FOUR THOUSAND THREE HUNDRED
FORTY-SIX DOLLARS,

     Defendant-Appellant.
____________________________

              Submitted January 11, 2017 – Decided October 16, 2017

              Before Judges Fuentes and Carroll.

              On appeal from Superior Court of New Jersey,
              Law Division, Union County, Docket No. L-1578-
              10.

              Shawn E. Parrott, appellant pro se.

              Grace H. Park, Acting Union County Prosecutor,
              attorney for respondent (Tangerla Mitchell
              Thomas, Special Deputy Attorney General/Acting
              Assistant Prosecutor, of counsel and on the
              brief).

        The opinion of the court was delivered by

FUENTES, P.J.A.D.
     Shawn E. Parrot appeals from the March 6, 2015 order entered

by Judge Karen M. Cassidy denying his motion seeking the return

of a 2005 Cadillac-STS, and a Cadillac SRX, which were seized by

the State in connection with criminal charges filed against Parrot.

At the time of the seizure, these vehicles were owned by Delice

Ruiz.     We affirm.

     All ownership rights and title to these two vehicles were

forfeited and transferred to the State by order for Judgment of

Forfeiture entered by default by the Law Division on August 8,

2010 in an in rem civil action initiated by the State pursuant to

N.J.S.A. 2C:64-1 to -9.   This order was modified on July 12, 2012

to exclude a 1998 Mercedes Benz CLK.   This aspect of the Judgment

of Forfeiture is not challenged in this appeal.

     N.J.S.A. 2C:64-8 provides:

           Any person who could not with due diligence
           have discovered that property which he owns
           was seized as contraband may file a claim for
           its return or the value thereof at the time
           of seizure within 3 years of the seizure if
           he can demonstrate that he did not consent to,
           and had no knowledge of its unlawful use. If
           the property has been sold, the claimant
           receives a claim against proceeds.

           [Emphasis added].

As it relates to this case, the Legislature has defined an "owner"

as "a person who holds the legal title of a vehicle[.]"     N.J.S.A.

39:1-1.

                                  2                          A-3653-14T1
     Relying on the unambiguous language in these two statutes,

Judge Cassidy found appellant does not have standing to challenge

the forfeiture because he did not hold legal title to these

vehicles:

            Here the facts show that at the time the 2005
            Cadillac STS and 2004 Cadillac SRX were
            seized, Delice Ruiz held title in both
            vehicles. As such, she was the owner of the
            vehicles at issue in the present matter at the
            time of their seizure. Subsequently, by Order
            for Judgement by Default on August 8, 2010,
            title to the 2005 Cadillac STS and 2004
            Cadillac SRX was transferred to the State of
            New Jersey. To date, New Jersey remains the
            title holder and owner of both vehicles. It
            is clear on the record that defendant Parrot
            does not have title to either of the vehicles
            indicated in his motion and therefore cannot
            maintain a claim for return of either the 2005
            Cadillac STS and 2004 Cadillac SRX.

     Appellant's arguments challenging Judge Cassidy's decision

lack sufficient merit to warrant discussion in a written opinion.

R. 2:11-3(e)(1)(E).      We affirm substantially for the reasons

expressed by Judge Cassidy.

     Affirmed.

                                  3                          A-3653-14T1