State v. Fouse

The State of Wisconsin appeals from an order which forfeited an automobile to the state, pursuant to sec. 161.55, Stats., but which also required the state to reimburse John and Lucy Taylor for a $7,000 un-perfected interest in the car. This case requires us to construe and harmonize certain provisions of sec. 161.55, specifically, sec. 161.55(1) (d)4 relating to the rights of holders of a “perfected security interest” and sec. 161.55 (3) concerning the rights of “innocent persons” in for feiture actions. The state urges us to construe these provisions so that the “innocent persons” referred…