United States v. 37.29 Pounds of Semi-Precious Stones

MILBURN, Circuit Judge.

Claimant Newport U.S.A., Inc. appeals the district court’s order striking Newport’s claim for lack of standing to contest the forfeiture action brought by the United States against three lots of semi-precious gemstones. On appeal, the issues are (1) whether the Assignment of Claims Act, 31 U.S.C. § 3727, invalidates the assignment under which Newport claims an interest in *482these proceedings and, therefore, bars Newport’s standing to contest the forfeiture of the gemstones; and (2) whether the common law relation back doctrine bars Newport’s standing to contest the…