Guillen v. Contreras

¶1 — Under Washington’s civil forfeiture statute, law enforcement has the power to seize cash, property, and vehicles used in, or purchased with the proceeds from, drug dealing. RCW 69.50.505. Property owners have the right to challenge such seizures and, if they “substantially prevail! ],” recover their costs and reasonable attorney fees. RCW 69.50.505(6). In this case, police seized a car and money that appeared to have been used in a drug transaction. The family challenged the seizure. The superior court issued a mixed judgment, ruling that the car and some of the money was not subject to…