In Re Forfeiture of One 1979 Chevrolet C10 Van, 490 So. 2d 240 (Fla. 2d DCA 1986). · Go Syfert
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In Re Forfeiture of One 1979 Chevrolet C10 Van, 490 So. 2d 240 (Fla. 2d DCA 1986). Cases Citing This Book View Copy Cite
8 citation events (1 in the last 25 years) across 3 distinct courts.
Strongest positive: Echo River Sanctuary, LLC f/k/a TSE Plantation, LLC v. 21st Mortgage Corp., Meri L. Harrell Curtis R. Harrell (fladistctapp, 2022-09-14)
Top citers, strongest first. 3 distinct citers. How cited ↗
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Echo River Sanctuary, LLC f/k/a TSE Plantation, LLC v. 21st Mortgage Corp., Meri L. Harrell Curtis R. Harrell
Fla. Dist. Ct. App. · 2022 · confidence medium
Sheriff’s Office, 738 So. 2d at 459 (“A lienholder’s interest whose lien has not been perfected according to the requirements of section 319.27(1) is subject to forfeiture.”) (quoting In re Forfeiture of One 1979 Chevrolet C10 Van, 490 So. 2d 240, 241 (Fla. 2d DCA 1986)).
cited Cited as authority (rule) Bay Cty. Sheriff's Office v. Tfcu
Fla. Dist. Ct. App. · 1999 · confidence medium
In re Forfeiture of One 1979 Chevrolet C10 Van, VIN No. CGU1590137222, 490 So.2d 240, 241 (Fla. 2d DCA 1986).
discussed Cited "see, e.g." Wheels Unlimited, Inc. v. Lamar
Fla. Dist. Ct. App. · 1986 · signal: compare · confidence low
Compare this case construing section 932.-703(2), Florida Statutes, relating to an ownership interest in property the subject of forfeiture proceedings with the holding of the Second District Court of Appeal in Heinrich v. Scaglione, 490 So.2d 240 (Fla. 2d DCA 1986), construing section 932.703(3), Florida Statutes, relating to the holder of a lien interest against property the subject of a forfeiture proceeding.
Retrieving the full opinion text from the archive…
In re FORFEITURE OF the Following Described Property: ONE 1979 CHEVROLET C10 VAN, VIN # CGU1590137222, FLORIDA TAG # BXF922; and One 1980 Buick Century, Vin # 4H69AAG156802, Florida Tag # BDT700. Walter C. HEINRICH, Sheriff of Hillsborough County, Appellant,
v.
Tony SCAGLIONE and Basil Scaglione, Appellees.
85-1549.
District Court of Appeal of Florida, Second District.
Jun 27, 1986.
490 So. 2d 240
Grimes.
Cited by 4 opinions  |  Published

David J. Farash, Tampa, for appellant.

No appearance for appellees.

GRIMES, Acting Chief Judge.

The Sheriff of Hillsborough County filed suit to forfeit a 1979 Chevrolet C10 van which allegedly had been used in gambling activities.[1] After hearing testimony of the sheriff's witnesses that Tony Scaglione, the record title owner, had used his van to aid and abet felony gambling offenses, the court ordered the vehicle forfeited. On motion for rehearing, the court reversed its position and entered a final judgment which directed that the van be delivered to Tony Scaglione's brother. The sheriff appeals from this judgment.

The stipulated record on appeal provides in part:

7. The basis for the judge's reversal of his previous decision was that the judge found that the criminal defendant's brother, Basil Scaglione, had an "equitable interest" in the vehicle. The sole testimony in evidence was that Basil Scaglione paid for the vehicle with a check for $4,650.00, upon which check the word "loan" was noted at the bottom. Basil Scaglione testified that he loaned his brother, Tony Scaglione, the money for the C10 Van and identified the check in question. Basil Scaglione had no knowledge[*241] that the vehicle was used for any illegal purpose. The Court, based on this evidence, found that an equitable lien had been created in favor of Basil Scaglione and ordered the return of the vehicle.

A lienholder's interest in a motor vehicle subject to forfeiture under the Florida Contraband Forfeiture Act is entitled to protection, but only under certain circumstances. Section 932.703(3), Florida Statutes (1985), provides:

(3) No bona fide lienholder's interest shall be forfeited under the provisions of ss. 932.701-932.704 if such lienholder establishes that he neither knew, nor should have known after a reasonable inquiry, that such property was being used or was likely to be used in criminal activity; that such use was without his consent, express or implied; and that the lien had been perfected in the manner prescribed by law prior to such seizure. If it appears to the satisfaction of the court that a lienholder's interest satisfies the above requirements for exemption, such lienholder's interest shall be preserved by the court by ordering the lienholder's interest to be paid from such proceeds of the sale as provided in s. 932.704(3)(a).

The brother's claim did not fall within the scope of the statute. We need not decide whether the evidence was sufficient to establish his right to an equitable lien because the statute only offers protection to one whose lien has "been perfected in the manner prescribed by law prior to such seizure." Section 319.27(1), Florida Statutes (1985), prescribes that the perfection of a lien on a motor vehicle titled in Florida is accomplished by noting the lien upon the face of the certificate of title or on a duplicate or corrected copy thereof. A lienholder's interest whose lien has not been perfected according to the requirements of section 319.27(1) is subject to forfeiture. Smith v. City of Miami Beach, 440 So.2d 611 (Fla. 3d DCA 1983)

Since the brother's purported lien was not noted upon the van's title, his interest is not subject to protection in the forfeiture proceedings.

Reversed.

LEHAN and SANDERLIN, JJ., concur.

1 A Buick automobile was also involved in the forfeiture proceeding, but its disposition is not the subject of this appeal.