In Re Forfeiture of $1,159,420

486 N.W.2d 326, 194 Mich. App. 134
CourtMichigan Court of Appeals
DecidedMay 4, 1992
DocketDocket 133003
StatusPublished
Cited by67 cases

This text of 486 N.W.2d 326 (In Re Forfeiture of $1,159,420) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Michigan Court of Appeals primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
In Re Forfeiture of $1,159,420, 486 N.W.2d 326, 194 Mich. App. 134 (Mich. Ct. App. 1992).

Opinions

Brennan, J.

Claimants appeal as of right from an August 2, 1990, judgment of forfeiture of property seized under a controlled substances provision of the Public Health Code, MCL 333.7521; MSA 14.15(7521), entered by Wayne Circuit Judge Michael J. Talbot. We affirm in part and reverse in part.

The record reveals that, in 1988, claimant Robert Hawkins pleaded guilty in Detroit Recorder’s Court of attempted possession of less than twenty-five grams of cocaine, MCL 333.7403(2)(a)(v); MSA 14.15(7403)(2)(a)(v); MCL 750.92; MSA 28.287. The case was adjudicated under MCL 333.7411; MSA 14.15(7411) and he was placed on probation. On the basis of the assets Hawkins disclosed in his probation report, the Wayne County prosecutor’s office became suspicious that he was living well beyond his legitimate income as a retired Chrysler factory worker. The forfeiture unit of the Wayne County Prosecutor’s office supplied this information to the Oakland County Narcotics Enforcement Team (net), which began investigating Hawkins. This investigation ceased after surveillance by net as well as the State Police revealed nothing unusual except for heavy traffic in and out of the claimants’ house and the presence of many expensive automobiles.

Subsequently, the State Police referred an informant named Randy Ulmer to West Bloomfield Police Officer Jerome Sharpe. Ulmer indicated that he had seen a large amount of cocaine in the [138]*138basement of claimants’ house. On the basis of this information, net and Sharpe executed a search warrant for claimants’ West Bloomfield home on May 9, 1989. The search revealed, among other items, weapons, a suspected drug ledger, and a great amount of cash, some of which had a residue of cocaine. A specially trained canine unit also indicated that traces of cocaine were present in areas throughout the house and in one car belonging to the claimants. This search resulted in the present forfeiture proceedings, which were instituted on May 10, 1989.1

Before trial, the parties reached a comprehensive stipulation regarding the tracing of assets in this case. Robert Hawkins stated that he had worked for Chrysler Corporation for sixteen years. He further stated that he had owned rental properties in Detroit since he was nineteen years old, as well as a beer and wine store from 1978 to 1986. Hawkins explained that his income resulted from these sources plus some gambling profits and loans that he made. In addition, claimants alleged that they had received $2 million as the result of a personal injury lawsuit in the Macomb Circuit Court. The lawsuit allegedly stemmed from a 1983 incident when Margaret Wilson, an insurance agent from Chicago, became upset after Pamela Hawkins told her she was not interested in the insurance Wilson was selling. Wilson allegedly hit Pamela, who then fell over a banister and down some stairs. Claimants stated that Pamela was pregnant at the time and later had an abortion [139]*139because she thought her doctor, Dr. Lall, told her that something may have been wrong with the fetus as a result of the fall. The Hawkinses filed a lawsuit against Wilson in the Macomb Circuit Court on October 11, 1985, and were represented in that suit by attorney Alvin Brazzell. They later settled the suit with Wilson for $2 million, a substantial amount of which was delivered in cash.2 Brazzell abruptly left his practice in February 1987 and, for reasons unknown to this Court, was incarcerated in a federal prison at the time of trial.

The trial court found claimants’ lawsuit against Wilson to be nothing more than a money-laundering scheme. Judge Talbot ultimately ordered forfeiture of the West Bloomfield home, the cash found therein, jewelry, weapons, cars, a computer and printer, a boat, property located in Florida, and several different bank accounts, annuities, and life insurance policies. Most of the property forfeited was located in Oakland County. Claimants raise a number of issues on appeal.

ISSUE i

Claimants first argue that the court erred in ordering forfeiture of all the assets except for the Lincoln, the Tiffany, and the Bayliner boat because those are the only items covered by a seizure order or arrest warrant. Claimants contend that the trial court had no jurisdiction over nonseized assets and, therefore, those assets should have been returned to claimants. However, pursuant to MCL 333.7522(a); MSA 14.15(7522)(a), seizure without process may be made where it is incident to an arrest or a search warrant. Here, the previously [140]*140issued search warrant included many of the items referred to by claimants. Therefore, those items did not need to be listed again on a seizure order. The property not included in the search warrant was subsequently seized with process by seizure orders and orders freezing assets. Consequently, the circuit court had jurisdiction to proceed with this case under § 7522.

Claimants assert that the trial court erred in ordering forfeiture of an annuity policy despite the fact that it was never named in any filed complaint nor made the subject matter of a seizure warrant or order freezing assets. Contrary to claimants’ argument, a June 1, 1989, order freezing assets included two annuities. In addition, on the basis of the order freezing assets, settlement negotiations, and its seizure during the execution of the search warrant, it is clear that claimants had notice before trial that the asset was subject to forfeiture. Notice regarding the court’s alleged lack of jurisdiction with regard to the annuities should have been raised before trial. By leaving the matter to the time of trial, claimants waived jurisdiction of the policies to the court.

Claimants argue that the trial court lacked jurisdiction over property located in Florida. We agree. Michigan courts have jurisdiction only over land situated within its territorial borders. MCL 600.751; MSA 27A.751; Stewart v Eaton, 287 Mich 466; 283 NW 651 (1939). Any complaint to forfeit claimants’ realty located in Florida should be filed with the Florida courts that have jurisdiction over that property.

ISSUE II

Claimants argue that the trial court erred in denying their motion to change venue to Oakland [141]*141County because all the realty and personal property forfeited was located either in Oakland County or outside the State of Michigan. However, assuming the trial court did err in denying the motion, reversal is not warranted. Michigan’s venue provisions are nonjurisdictional. MCL 600.1601; MSA 27A.1601.

ISSUE III

Claimants argue that the court erred in its rulings with regard to several discovery matters. Claimants first argue that the trial court erred in denying basic discovery. For example, they state that the trial court erred in not requiring the people to answer an interrogatory requesting that the people set forth their various theories under which each item was claimed to be forfeitable. However, the people did respond, indicating that forfeiture was sought on theories that referred to the items as controlled substances proceeds, facilitators, or containers under MCL 333.7521; MSA 14.15(7521). The trial court properly found that the prosecutor could argue alternative theories. MCR 2.111(A)(2). In addition, claimants state that the court erred in not requiring the prosecutor to produce all documents concerning any criteria used by the prosecutor in bringing, prosecuting, or settling cases under the forfeiture act. We agree with the trial court that this information was not relevant.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
486 N.W.2d 326, 194 Mich. App. 134, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/in-re-forfeiture-of-1159420-michctapp-1992.