State v. Konrath

577 N.W.2d 601, 218 Wis. 2d 290, 1998 Wisc. LEXIS 60
CourtWisconsin Supreme Court
DecidedMay 22, 1998
Docket96-1261-CR
StatusPublished
Cited by28 cases

This text of 577 N.W.2d 601 (State v. Konrath) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Wisconsin Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
State v. Konrath, 577 N.W.2d 601, 218 Wis. 2d 290, 1998 Wisc. LEXIS 60 (Wis. 1998).

Opinions

N. PATRICK CROOKS, J.

¶ 1. This case is on review from an unpublished decision of the court of appeals1 affirming a judgment of the circuit court. The Waukesha County Circuit Court, Joseph E. Wimmer, Judge, denied Lance Terry Konrath's (Konrath) motion to vacate the order for seizure of his motor vehicle in accord with Wis. Stat. § 346.65(6) (1993-94),2 resulting from Konrath's fifth conviction for operating a motor vehicle under the influence of an intoxicant contrary to Wis. Stat. § 346.63(l)(a).

¶ 2. In his motion to vacate the seizure order, Konrath raised three constitutional challenges to the impending seizure and possible forfeiture of his motor vehicle. First, Konrath argued that Wis. Stat. § 346.65(6) violates Article I, section 12 of the Wiscon[294]*294sin Constitution by permitting forfeiture of estate because the statute does not require a nexus between the motor vehicle and the crime from which the seizure and forfeiture result.3 Second, Konrath argued that § 346.65(6) violates the Double Jeopardy Clauses of the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments to the United States Constitution by permitting successive punishments because the statute does not require a nexus between the motor vehicle and the crime from which the seizure and forfeiture result.4 Third, Konrath argued that § 346.65(6) violates the Due Process Clauses of the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments to the United States Constitution by its failure to provide notice and hearing prior to seizure of the motor vehicle or a prompt post-deprivation hearing.5

[295]*295¶ 3. In its response to Konrath's motion, the State did not address Konrath's constitutional claims but instead objected to the timeliness of the motion. The State argued in part that Konrath's motion had been brought pursuant to Wis. Stat. § 974.06.6

¶ 4. The circuit court determined that Konrath had not specifically sought relief under Wis. Stat. § 974.06, and that the motion could not be brought in accord with § 974.06 in any event because that statutory section applies to appeals and post-conviction relief for a prisoner in custody: The circuit court dismissed Konrath's motion to vacate the seizure order because it was untimely under Wis. Stat. § 974.027 and no appeal had been taken from the original sentence. Konrath appealed.

¶ 5. The court of appeals affirmed the circuit court's order denying Konrath's motion to vacate the seizure order. The court of appeals concluded that [296]*296Konrath had failed to raise his constitutional claims through a timely appeal from the judgment of conviction in accord with Wis. Stat. § 974.02. The court of appeals noted that the forfeiture proceeding, which would commence after seizure of the motor vehicle, would afford Konrath another opportunity to raise any constitutional challenges to the seizure and forfeiture.

¶ 6. We conclude that Konrath lacks standing to assert a claim of forfeiture of estate as prohibited by Article I, section 12 of the Wisconsin Constitution. Wisconsin Stat. § 346.65(6) is constitutional as applied to Konrath, since the forfeiture is civil in nature and there is a nexus between the motor vehicle to be seized and forfeited and the crime. Because § 346.65(6) is constitutionally applied to Konrath, and his claims do not implicate the First Amendment to the United States Constitution, Konrath may not assert a facial over-breadth challenge that § 346.65(6) may be unconstitutionally applied in instances not presently before this court.

¶ 7. Similarly, Konrath lacks standing to assert a violation of the Double Jeopardy Clauses of the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments to the United States Constitution and Article I, section 8 of the Wisconsin Constitution.8 The forfeiture of Konrath's motor vehi[297]*297cle under Wis. Stat. § 346.65(6) is an in rem civil forfeiture. In rem civil forfeitures are distinct from punishment for a criminal offense and, therefore, the Double Jeopardy Clause prohibiting multiple punishments is inapplicable. Thus, since § 346.65(6) is constitutional as applied to Konrath, and his claims do not implicate the First Amendment to the United States Constitution, Konrath lacks standing to assert a facial overbreadth challenge that § 346.65(6) may be unconstitutionally applied in instances not presently before this court.

¶ 8. Finally, we reject Konrath's claim that his rights under the Due Process Clauses of the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments to the United States Constitution and Article I, section 1 of the Wisconsin Constitution have been violated.9 Wisconsin Stat. [298]*298346.65(6) sets forth procedural due process protections including providing notice of the seizure and a hearing prior to forfeiture of the motor vehicle. Moreover, Konrath was notified of the impending seizure and possible forfeiture on several occasions. Such notification included written notice in the complaint, the amended complaint, the second amended complaint, and the judgment of conviction. Konrath was also notified orally at the status conference, as well as at the plea and sentencing hearing. In addition, Konrath had an opportunity to be heard at the status conference and the plea and sentencing hearing before the circuit court. At each of these hearings, the circuit court directly discussed seizure and forfeiture of the motor vehicle and Konrath had an opportunity to respond. Furthermore, this case presents the limited extraordinary circumstances under which immediate seizure of Konrath's motor vehicle is constitutionally permissible without preseizure notice and hearing. After Konrath's motor vehicle is seized,10 he will again be provided notice of the seizure, and a forfeiture hearing will be held at which time Konrath will be given yet another opportunity to be heard on any claims in relation to the seizure and forfeiture of his motor vehicle.

A.

¶ 9. The facts are undisputed for purposes of our review. On November 15, 1993, the State filed a complaint charging Konrath with four counts of criminal [299]*299conduct, namely: (1) operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of an intoxicant (fifth offense) contrary to Wis. Stat. § 346.63(l)(a); (2) operating a motor vehicle with a prohibited alcohol concentration (fifth offense) contrary to Wis. Stat. §

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Bluebook (online)
577 N.W.2d 601, 218 Wis. 2d 290, 1998 Wisc. LEXIS 60, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-v-konrath-wis-1998.