Commonwealth v. One 1978 Ketch Named "Snow White"

Jon Dunaj, the claimant, appeals from a judgment of the Superior Court ordering the forfeiture of a ketch (“Snow White”) to the Commonwealth pursuant to G. L. c. 94C, § 47. The owner contends that the Commonwealth’s postcomplaint delay in the adjudication of the forfeiture action violated his constitutional right to due process and his statutory right to a prompt hearing (see G. L. c. 94C, § 47 [d]). The claimant further challenges the trial judge’s finding that he (Dunaj) knew *400or should have known that the ketch was used to distribute marihuana. See G. L. c. 94C, § 47(c) (3).

The procedural…