Thompson v. Schwaebe
THOMPSON v. SCHWAEBE, Collector of Customs
- Proceeding
- district
- Area
- criminal
- Panel
- James (author)
Analysis
The court considered a bill of complaint seeking an injunction to restrain the collector of customs from selling an automobile seized for smuggling intoxicating liquor. The court dismissed the bill of complaint with costs to the United States, finding that the statutory forfeiture proceedings provided adequate notice and opportunity to contest, thus negating the basis for equitable relief.
| What the court decided | The model |
|---|---|
Dismissal of the bill of complaint for an injunction“Decree will therefore be entered dismissing the bill of complaint, with costs to the United States.” | agree with court The court correctly identified that the primary purpose of the statutory forfeiture process is to provide due process (notice and opportunity to be heard). Because the plaintiff admitted that the collector complied with these statutory conditions, the plaintiff failed to demonstrate the irreparable harm or lack of adequate legal remedy required for equitable relief. The court's reliance on the principle that a claimant who fails to appear in the statutory proceeding cannot later use equity to stop the sale is consistent with the law of the time regarding the exclusivity of statutory forfeiture remedies. |
The order itself: sound — The order is sound. It correctly applies the doctrine that equitable jurisdiction is generally unavailable to restrain statutory proceedings when the statute provides an adequate remedy at law (the forfeiture hearing itself). The court properly distinguished the *Port Gardner* holding (which barred a *second* forfeiture action) from the current situation (where the plaintiff is trying to stop the *first* statutory sale via equity). The court correctly noted that the plaintiff's remedy was to appear in the statutory proceeding, not to file a separate injunction.
Opinion — James
JAMES, District Judge.
This is a suit for an injunction to restrain the collector of customs from selling under the provisions of the Act of September 21, 1922 (42 Stat. 986 [19 USCA § 519]), an automobile, which it is claimed on the part of the collector was seized by the officers while engaged in transporting intoxicating liquor which had been smuggled into the United States without paying customs duty.
No contention is made that the collector has not fully complied with those conditions which the act of Congress prescribes. See Barnes’ Eederal Code Supp. 1919-1926, § 4541, with subdivisions. These provisions provide for adequate notice and opportunity to claimants to appear and assert their right.
The plaintiff has alleged, and the fact appears to be accordingly, that the driver of the automobile seized has heretofore been prosecuted under the National Prohibition Act (27 USCA), and received sentence upon his conviction. The case of Port Gardner Investment Company v. United States, 272 U. S. 564, 47 S. Ct. 165, 71 L. Ed. 412, decided by the Supreme Court, November 23, 1926, is cited to the point that, upon conviction had of the driver of the automobile under the terms of the National Prohibition Act, it became mandatory that the automobile be forfeited under section 26 of title 2 of that act (27 USCA § 40), and that there remains no right to forfeit for violation of customs regulations. That decision held that, where a conviction was mlade under the National Prohibition Act, a libel could not be maintained under section 3450, Revised Statutes (26 USCA § 1181 [Comp. St. § 6352]), relating to proceedings of forfeiture of vehicles and merchandise, used to conceal property with intent to defraud United States of revenue tax. Conceding that the same conclusion should be adopted where the attempted forfeiture is under the customs law, it does not follow that, instead of pursuing the course of action provided for the protection of a claimant in such a case, such claimant may maintain an • equitable action to restrain a sale.
Counsel for the plaintiff contends that action of the Customs Department ánd a subsequent proceeding by the district attorney to forfeit under the customs law would be entirely void. This does not follow from the facts. There can be no doubt, I think, that where a claimant does not appear to assert such right as he may have or urge the irregularity of the proceeding, a sale will give a good title to the purchaser. The only question .that must be answered is: Is the proceeding, under which the sale of the automobile is threatened, being pursued without notice to the claimants and without the right of such claimants to appear and contest the ground of forfeiture or urge irregularity in the proceeding. The question necessarily must be answered in the negative. So answered,. it follows that there is’ no ground upon which the equitable action for injunction ean.be maintained.
Decree will therefore be entered dismissing the bill of complaint, with costs to the United States. An exception will be allowed to complainant'on the entry of this decree.
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