(a) If no proper claims are timely filed in an action in rem, or if no proper answer is timely filed in response to a complaint, the plaintiff‘s attorney may apply for an order of forfeiture and allocation of forfeited property pursuant to Kan. Stat. Ann. § 60-4117, and amendments thereto. Upon a determination by the court that the seizing agency‘s written application established the court’s jurisdiction, the giving of proper notice, and facts sufficient to show probable cause for forfeiture, the court shall order the property forfeited to the seizing agency.

(b) After final disposition of all claims timely filed in an action in rem, or after final judgment and disposition of all claims timely filed in an action in personam, the court shall enter an order that the seizing agency has clear title to the forfeited property interest. Title to the forfeited property interest and such property’s proceeds shall be deemed to have vested in the seizing agency on the commission of the conduct giving rise to forfeiture under this act.

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Terms Used In Kansas Statutes 60-4116

  • Answer: The formal written statement by a defendant responding to a civil complaint and setting forth the grounds for defense.
  • Complaint: A written statement by the plaintiff stating the wrongs allegedly committed by the defendant.
  • Conveyance: includes any vehicle, trailer, vessel, aircraft or other means of transportation. See Kansas Statutes 60-4102
  • Damages: Money paid by defendants to successful plaintiffs in civil cases to compensate the plaintiffs for their injuries.
  • Interest holder: means a secured party within the meaning of the uniform commercial code, a mortgagee, lien creditor, judgment creditor or the beneficiary of a security interest or encumbrance pertaining to an interest in property, whose interest would be perfected against a good faith purchaser for value. See Kansas Statutes 60-4102
  • Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
  • Litigation: A case, controversy, or lawsuit. Participants (plaintiffs and defendants) in lawsuits are called litigants.
  • Notice of pending forfeiture: means a written statement by the plaintiff's attorney following a seizure of property but prior to the filing of a judicial complaint against such property allowing for an administrative resolution to claims or recognition of exemptions. See Kansas Statutes 60-4102
  • Owner: means a person, other than an interest holder, who has an interest in property. See Kansas Statutes 60-4102
  • Person: includes any individual or entity capable of holding a legal or beneficial interest in property. See Kansas Statutes 60-4102
  • Plaintiff: The person who files the complaint in a civil lawsuit.
  • Probable cause: A reasonable ground for belief that the offender violated a specific law.
  • Proceeds: means anything of value, derived directly or indirectly from or realized through unlawful activity, including any monies used or intended to be used, or facilitate or intended to facilitate, the purchase, manufacture, cultivation, transportation, storage, distribution, sale, or possession of controlled substances or contraband. See Kansas Statutes 60-4102
  • Property: means anything of value, and includes any interest in property, including any benefit, privilege, claim or right with respect to anything of value, whether real or personal, tangible or intangible. See Kansas Statutes 60-4102
  • Regulated interest holder: means an interest holder that is a business authorized to do business in this state and is under the jurisdiction of a state or federal regulatory agency relating to banking, securities, insurance or real estate. See Kansas Statutes 60-4102
  • Seizing agency: means any department or agency of this state or its political subdivisions which regularly employs law enforcement officers and which employed the law enforcement officer who seized property for forfeiture, or such other agency as the seizing agency may designate in a particular case. See Kansas Statutes 60-4102
  • Seizure for forfeiture: means seizure of property by a law enforcement officer including a constructive seizure coupled with an assertion by the seizing agency or a plaintiff's attorney that the property is subject to forfeiture. See Kansas Statutes 60-4102
  • State: when applied to the different parts of the United States, includes the District of Columbia and the territories. See Kansas Statutes 77-201

(c) If, in the discretion of the plaintiff’s attorney, such plaintiff’s attorney has recognized in writing that an interest holder has an interest that is exempt from forfeiture, the court, on application of the plaintiff’s attorney, may release or convey forfeited personal property to a regulated interest holder on all of the following conditions:

(1) The interest holder has an interest which was acquired in the regular course of business as an interest holder.

(2) The amount of the interest holder’s encumbrance is readily determinable and the amount has been reasonably established by proof made available by the plaintiff’s attorney to the court.

(3) The encumbrance held by the interest holder seeking possession is the only interest exempted from forfeiture and the order forfeiting the property to the seizing agency transferred all of the rights of the owner prior to forfeiture, including rights of redemption to the seizing agency.

(4) After the court’s release or conveyance, the interest holder shall dispose of the property by a commercially reasonable public sale, and within 14 days of disposition shall tender to the seizing agency the amount received at disposition less the amount of the interest holder’s encumbrance and reasonable expense incurred by the interest holder in connection with the sale or disposal.

(d) On order of the court forfeiting the subject property, the seizing agency may transfer good and sufficient title to any subsequent purchaser or transferee, unless satisfied and released earlier, subject to all mortgages, deeds of trust, financing statements or security agreements of record prior to the forfeiture held by an interest holder and the title shall be recognized by all courts, by this state, and by all agencies of and any political subdivision. Likewise on entry of judgment in favor of a person claiming an interest in the property that is subject to proceedings to forfeit property under this act, the court shall enter an order that the property or interest in property shall be released or delivered promptly to that person free of liens and encumbrances under this act and the person’s cost bond shall be discharged.

(e) Upon motion by the plaintiff’s attorney, if it appears after a hearing there was reasonable cause for the seizure for forfeiture or for the filing of the notice of pending forfeiture or complaint, the court shall cause a finding to be entered that reasonable cause existed, or that any such action was taken under a reasonable good faith belief that it was proper, and the claimant is not entitled to costs or damages, and the person or seizing agency who made the seizure, and the plaintiff’s attorney, are not liable to suit or judgment on account of the seizure, suit or prosecution.

(f) The court shall order a claimant who fails to establish that a substantial portion of the claimant’s interest is exempt from forfeiture under Kan. Stat. Ann. § 60-4105, and amendments thereto, to pay the reasonable costs and expenses of any claimant who established such claimant’s interest is exempt from forfeiture under Kan. Stat. Ann. § 60-4105, and amendments thereto, and to pay the reasonable costs and expenses of the seizing agency for the investigation and litigation of the matter, including reasonable attorney fees, in connection with that claimant.

(g) If more than one law enforcement agency is substantially involved in effecting a forfeiture pursuant to this act, and no interagency agreement exists, the court shall equitably distribute the proceeds among such agencies.

(h) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, upon the request of the intellectual property owner, all seized items bearing a counterfeit mark shall be released to the intellectual property owner for destruction or disposition. If the intellectual property owner does not request release of seized items bearing a counterfeit mark, such items shall be destroyed unless the intellectual property owner consents to another disposition.