United States v. Land, Shelby County

In August 1991, the government brought a forfeiture action (21 U.S.C. § 881) against this land in Alabama, alleging that the property was used by Fannie Mae Victor in drug transactions for which she was arrested and convicted. The only potential claimant to appear in the action was Henry Ford, the owner of the defendant property. Ford filed a “purported answer,” which the district court struck in October 1991. By then, it was too late for Ford to file a proper claim.

Noting that no claimants existed to fight the government’s claim, the court appointed Jesse Evans as counsel for the defendant…