United States v. $23 407.69 In U.S. Currency

In this case the government, appellant, undertakes to accomplish the forfeiture of the sum of $23,407.69 in United States currency seized in connection with a lawful drug-related arrest. The appellee opposes the forfeiture on the ground the thirteen month delay from the time of the seizure until the complaint for forfeiture was filed by the government deprived him of his constitutional and statutory rights to a prompt resolution of the forfeiture issue. The district court agreed with the appellees assertion that the delay was inordinate and unjustified. The court denied the governments forfeiture petition. We affirm.