§2608. Commencement of forfeiture proceedings; property release requirements

Forfeiture proceedings shall be commenced as follows:

(1)(a) When the district attorney intends to forfeit property, pursuant to the provisions of this Chapter, he shall provide the owner and interest holder with a written assertion within forty-five days after actual or constructive seizure, except in cases in which the property is held for evidentiary purpose, the district attorney shall institute forfeiture proceedings within forty-five days after the final disposition of all criminal proceedings associated with the conduct giving rise to forfeiture. If the district attorney fails to initiate forfeiture proceedings against property seized for forfeiture by serving Notice of Pending Forfeiture within one hundred twenty days after its seizure for forfeiture or if the state fails to pursue forfeiture of the property upon which a timely claim has been properly served by filing a Petition for Forfeiture proceeding within ninety days after Notice of Pending Forfeiture, or if the district attorney fails to provide a written assertion, pursuant to the provisions of this Paragraph, the property shall be released from its seizure for forfeiture on the request of an owner or interest holder, pending further proceedings pursuant to the provisions of this Chapter.

(b) When no written assertion has been given to the claimant, within the time delays provided herein, the claimant may file a Motion for Release of Seized Property pursuant to the criminal jurisdiction of the court.

(2) If, after Notice of Pending Forfeiture, a claimant files a request for stipulation of exemption pursuant to R.S. 40:2610, the district attorney may delay filing the judicial forfeiture proceeding for a total of one hundred eighty days after the service of Notice of Pending Forfeiture.

(3) Whenever Notice of Pending Forfeiture or service of an in rem petition is required under the provisions of this Chapter, notice or service shall be given in accordance with one of the following:

(a) If the owner's or interest holder's name and current address are known, by either personal service or by mailing a copy of the notice by certified mail to that address.

(b) If the owner's or interest holder's name and address are required by law to be recorded with the parish clerk of court, the motor vehicle division of the Department of Public Safety and Corrections, or another state or federal agency to perfect an interest in the property, and the owner's or interest holder's current address is not known, by mailing a copy of the notice by certified mail, return receipt requested, to any address of record with any of the described agencies.

(c) If the owner's or interest holder's address is not known and is not on record as provided in Subparagraph (b) of this Paragraph, or the owner or interest holder's interest is not known by publication in one issue of the official journal in the parish in which the seizure occurs.

(4) Notice is effective upon personal service, publication, or the mailing of a written notice, whichever is earlier, and shall include a description of the property, the date and place of seizure, the conduct giving rise to forfeiture or the violation of law alleged, and a summary of procedures and procedural rights applicable to the forfeiture action.

(5)(a) The district attorney may file, without a filing fee, a lien for the forfeiture of property upon the initiation of any civil or criminal proceeding under this Chapter or upon seizure for forfeiture. The filing constitutes notice to any person claiming an interest in the seized property or in property owned by the named person.

(b) The lien notice shall set forth the following:

(i) The name or alias of the person and, in the discretion of the lienor, the name of any alias, any corporation, partnership, trust, or other entity, including agents, that are owned entirely or in part, or controlled by the person.

(ii) The description of the seized property or the criminal or civil proceeding that has been brought under this Chapter, the amount claimed by the lienor, the name of the district court where the proceeding or action has been brought, and the case number of the proceeding or action if known at the time of filing.

(c) A lien filed pursuant to the provisions of this Paragraph applies to the described seized property or to one named person, any aliases, fictitious names, or other names, including the names of any corporation, partnership, trust, or other entity, owned entirely or in part, or controlled by the named person, and any interest in real property owned or controlled by the named person. A separate forfeiture lien shall be filed for each named person.

(d) The lien creates, upon filing, a lien in favor of the lienor as it relates to the seized property or the named person or related entities. The lien secures the amount of potential liability for civil judgment, and, if applicable, the fair market value of seized property relating to all proceedings under this Chapter enforcing the lien. The notice of forfeiture lien referred to in this Paragraph shall be filed in accordance with the provisions of the laws of this state in accordance with the type of property that is subject to the lien. The validity and priority of the forfeiture lien shall be determined in accordance with applicable law pertaining to liens. The lienor may amend or release, in whole or in part, a lien filed under this Paragraph at any time by filing, without a filing fee, an amended lien in accordance with the provisions of this Paragraph, which identifies the lien amended. The lienor, as soon as practical after filing a lien, shall furnish to any person named in the lien a notice of the filing of the lien. Failure to furnish notice under the provisions of this Paragraph shall not invalidate or otherwise affect the lien.

(e) Upon entry of judgment in its favor, the state may proceed to execute on the lien as provided by law.

(f) A trustee, constructive or otherwise, who has notice that a forfeiture lien, or a Notice of Pending Forfeiture, or a civil forfeiture proceeding has been filed against the property or against any person or entity for whom the person holds title or appears as record owner, shall furnish within ten days, to the appropriate district attorney's office all of the following information:

(i) The names and addresses of the person or entity for whom the property is held.

(ii) The names and addresses of all other beneficiaries for whose benefit legal title to the seized property, or property of the named person or related entity, is held.

(iii) A copy of the applicable trust agreement or other instrument, if any, under which the trustee or other person holds legal title or appears as record owner of the property.

(g) A trustee, constructive or otherwise, who, with notice fails to comply with the provisions of this Paragraph may be fined not more than five hundred dollars per day for each day during which the failure to comply exists.

(h) A trustee, constructive or otherwise, who with notice fails to comply with the provisions of this Paragraph shall be guilty of violating such provision and may, upon conviction, be sentenced to imprisonment for not less than two nor more than five years, with or without hard labor, and shall be fined not less than ten thousand dollars per day for each day compliance was not made.

Acts 1989, No. 375, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1990; Acts 1992, No. 720, §1; Acts 1997, No. 1334, §1.