People v. $5,608 United States Currency

The State filed a complaint for the forfeiture of $5,608 that had been seized from Richard Brown, who was charged with unlawful possession of a controlled substance with the intent to deliver. Brown answered the complaint and asserted that the money was not subject to forfeiture. Brown passed away during the course of the proceedings, and his wife, Denise Brown, was appointed as special administrator. At trial, the court sustained her objections that the State’s evidence was inadmissible under the Dead-Man’s Act (735 ILCS 5/8 — 201 (West 2002)), and it granted her motion for a directed…