United States v. One Handbag of Crocodilus Species

FINDINGS OF FACT AND CONCLUSIONS OF LAW

HURLEY, District Judge.

NATURE OF PROCEEDING

The United States seeks forfeiture of each of the seized defendant properties listed in the three captioned actions, which total fifty-seven items. The plaintiff seeks forfeiture of these items under Section 11(e)(4)(A) of the Endangered Species Act, 16 U.S.C. § 1540(e)(4)(A). 1

Plaintiff contends that defendant products are subject to forfeiture because they were manufactured from hides of crocodilians designated as endangered under the Endangered Species Act and/or because the items were improperly identified…