Moen v. Spokane City Police Department

— Eugene Moen successfully challenged the civil forfeiture of a 2000 Ford Taurus seized by the Spokane Police Department. The trial court awarded him reasonable attorney fees pursuant to RCW 4.84.350, more commonly known as the Equal Access to Justice Act (EAJA). On appeal, the Department contends the civil forfeiture statute, RCW 69.50.505, prohibits the award of attorney fees to individual claimants and, as a more specific statute, is controlling here. We find that the EAJA does not conflict with the civil forfeiture statute, and affirm.

Facts

In February 2000, Spokane police officers…