Court Opinion

ID: 7808
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2010-04-25 05:31:35+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:03:59.532271
License: Public Domain

IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
                        FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT

                         __________________

                             No. 95-30578
                         Conference Calendar
                          __________________

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

                                      Plaintiff-Appellee,
versus

LAND, Property currently recorded in the
name of Romero D. Rouser and described as
follows: State of Louisiana, City of New
Orleans, Third District, Square 294, Lot C,
Municipal No. 4209-4211 Burgundy Street,
New Orleans, Louisiana; LAND, Property
currently recorded in the names of Romero
D. Rouser and Kenneth James Rouser and
described as follows: State of Louisiana,
City of New Orleans, First District, Square
759, Lot Q, Municipal No. 4416-4418 South
Carrollton Avenue, New Orleans, Louisiana;
LAND, Property currently recorded in the
name of Romero D. Rouser and described as
follows: State of Louisiana, City of New
Orleans, Second District, Square 407-408,
Lot 11, Municipal No. 924-926 North Salcedo
Street, New Orleans, Louisiana; LAND,
Property currently recorded in the name of
Robert Smith and described as follows: State
of Louisiana, City of New Orleans, Square 232,
Lot 36, Municipal No. 8828-8828 1/2 Hickory
Street, New Orleans, Louisiana,

                                      Defendants,
KENNETH J. ROUSER,

                                      Claimant,
     and

ROBERT SMITH,

                                          Movant-Appellant.

                        - - - - - - - - - -
           Appeal from the United States District Court
               for the Eastern District of Louisiana
                       USDC No. 91-CV-1380-1
                        - - - - - - - - - -
                         (October 19, 1995)
                          No. 95-30578
                               -2-

Before POLITZ, Chief Judge, and REAVLEY and SMITH, Circuit Judges.

PER CURIAM:*

     Robert Smith contends that the district court erroneously

denied his motion to set aside the order of default.   He argues

that the civil forfeiture proceeding was punitive, not remedial,

and that his failure to contest the civil forfeiture proceeding

was inconsequential in light of Department of Revenue of Montana

v. Kurth Ranch, 114 S. Ct. 1937, 1947-48 & n.21 (1994).   Smith

also asserts that he labored under the assumption that he was

barred from contesting the civil forfeiture because of his plea

agreement.

     The presentence investigation report (PSR) prepared in

conjunction with Smith's criminal conviction indicates that Smith

specifically agreed to forfeit all interest in the properties in

question, and to take what steps were necessary to pass clear

title to the United States.

     Smith's argument is foreclosed by United States v. Arreola-

Ramos, 60 F.3d 188, 192-93 (5th Cir. 1995).   In Arreola-Ramos, we

held that because Arreola, who, like Smith, asserted a double

jeopardy claim with regard to a civil forfeiture proceeding, "did

not appear and contest the forfeiture, he was never in jeopardy."

Id. at 193.

     *
          Local Rule 47.5 provides: "The publication of opinions
that have no precedential value and merely decide particular
cases on the basis of well-settled principles of law imposes
needless expense on the public and burdens on the legal
profession." Pursuant to that Rule, the court has determined
that this opinion should not be published.
                           No. 95-30578
                                -3-

     It is undisputed that Smith did not contest the civil

forfeiture proceeding.   Smith acknowledges that he bargained away

the right to contest the civil forfeiture as part of the plea

agreement entered into during his criminal prosection.

     We review the district court's denial of a motion to vacate

an order of default for an abuse of discretion.     United States v.

One 1978 Piper Navaho PA-31 Aircraft, 748 F.2d 316, 318 (5th Cir.

1984).   To prevail, Smith must prove that his failure to defend

against the civil forfeiture was due to justifiable neglect and

also that he had a valid defense to the forfeiture action which

probably would have succeeded.    Id.   As discussed above, Smith

had no such defense and, by his own admission, his failure to

defend against the forfeiture was the result of his plea bargain,

not due to justifiable neglect.   The district court did not abuse

its discretion in denying his motion.

     AFFIRMED.