Costello v. State, 13-89-080-CV
| Decision Date | 29 June 1989 |
| Docket Number | No. 13-89-080-CV,13-89-080-CV |
| Citation | 774 S.W.2d 722 |
| Parties | Lawrence P. COSTELLO, Jr., Appellant, v. The STATE of Texas, et al., Appellees. |
| Court | Texas Court of Appeals |
Michael W. Williams, Port Aransas, for appellant.
Rick Rogers, Porter, Rogers, Dahlman & Gordan, Bradford M. Condit, Asst. County Atty., Corpus Christi, for appellees.
Before NYE, C.J., and SEERDEN and BENAVIDES, JJ.
This is an appeal from a judgment ordering that a 1987 Chevrolet Corvette be forfeited to the State pursuant to the Texas Controlled Substances Act. Tex.Rev.Civ.Stat.Ann. art. 4476-15, Sec. 5.03 (Vernon Supp.1989). By three points of error, Costello seeks reversal of the trial court's judgment.
The vehicle was seized after it was allegedly used to purchase and deliver methamphetamines. The State initiated this action by filing a notice of seizure and forfeiture in the district court. After a non-jury trial, and after Ford Motor Credit Co. (lienholder on the car) was joined as a party, the court ordered the car forfeited to the Nueces County Sheriff. The vehicle was sold approximately three months later at a Sheriff's auction.
The State, without citing any authority, urges in a Motion to Dismiss that we should dismiss the cause on the ground that in rem jurisdiction was destroyed, rendering the appeal moot. The State's verified motion says the vehicle was sold at a Sheriff's Auction and is no longer within the jurisdiction of the court or the State. Costello denies that this court is without jurisdiction. He claims in his first response that this court retains jurisdiction because the car was sold "as is" at the Sheriff's auction. In the second response, he includes an affidavit by his attorney swearing to the fact that he overheard the State's attorney say the vehicle was "in the possession, control and ostensible ownership of an attorney for Ford Motor Credit Co."
A forfeiture proceeding is an in rem proceeding. State v. Rumfolo, 545 S.W.2d 752, 754 (Tex.1976); Fleming v. State, 704 S.W.2d 530, 531 (Tex.App.--Houston [14th Dist.] 1986, writ ref'd n.r.e.). The general rule of in rem jurisdiction is that the court's jurisdiction is dependent on the court's control over the defendant res. Pennington v. Fourth National Bank, 243 U.S. 269, 37 S.Ct. 282, 283, 61 L.Ed. 713 (1917); United States v. $79,000 in United States Currency, 801 F.2d 738, 739 (5th Cir.1986); Henry v. Reno, 401 S.W.2d 118, 120 (Tex.Civ.App.--Eastland 1966, writ ref'd n.r.e.).
At issue is whether this court has jurisdiction after the res has been sold, retitled, and is no longer within our control. While we have not been referred to any case law by either party, and we have found no Texas cases dealing precisely with this issue, there are several federal decisions dealing with an appellate court's jurisdiction in an in rem proceeding after the res has been sold or dispersed. See, e.g., United States v. One Lear Jet Aircraft, 836 F.2d 1571 (11th Cir.1988), cert. denied, 487 U.S. 1204, 108 S.Ct. 2844, 101 L.Ed.2d 881; United States v. $2490.00 in United States Currency, 825 F.2d 1419 (9th Cir.1987); $79,000, 801 F.2d at 739; United States v. 66 Pieces of Jade & Gold Jewelry, 760 F.2d 970, 973 (9th Cir.1985); United States v. United States Currency in the amount of $110,000, 735 F.2d 326, 327 (9th Cir.1984).
In those cases, the courts have recognized that ordinarily it is incumbent upon the claimant to obtain a stay of execution of the trial court's judgment to prevent removal of the res from the control of the court and to preserve jurisdiction for appeal. Otherwise, the release or removal of the res from the control of the court will terminate jurisdiction, unless the res is released accidently, fraudulently, or improperly. $79,000, 801 F.2d at 739, citing The Rio Grande, 90 U.S. (23 Wall) 458, 23 L.Ed. 158 (1874).
Similarly, Texas law requires a bond or deposit to be filed...
To continue reading
Request your trial
-
State v. $30,660.00
...Christi 1997, writ denied). The trial court's jurisdiction depends on its control over the property. Costello v. State, 774 S.W.2d 722, 723 (Tex.App.-Corpus Christi 1989, writ denied); see also 1976 Harley Davidson Motorcycle v. State, 106 S.W.3d 398, 400 (Tex.App.-Corpus Christi 2003, no p......
-
Pine v. State
...The jurisdiction of a court in a forfeiture action is dependent on the court's control over the res. Costello v. State, 774 S.W.2d 722, 723 (Tex.App.--Corpus Christi 1989, writ denied). Without a new seizure, Pine argues the justice court had no jurisdiction. Because the justice court was w......
-
State v. Thirty Thousand Six Hundred Sixty Dollars
...Christi 1997, writ denied). The trial court's jurisdiction depends on its control over the property. Costello v. State, 774 S.W.2d 722, 723 (Tex. App.-Corpus Christi 1989, writ denied); see also 1976 Harley Davidson Motorcycle v. State, 106 S.W.3d 398, 400 (Tex. App.-Corpus Christi 2003, no......
-
Bochas v. State, 13-95-275-CV
...no writ); $191,452.00 v. State, 827 S.W.2d 430, 433 (Tex.App.--Corpus Christi 1992, writ denied); Costello v. State, 774 S.W.2d 722, 723 (Tex.App.--Corpus Christi 1989, writ denied).4 Pursuant to section 481.121(a),(b)(5) of the Texas Health & Safety Code, possession of 1,500 pounds of mari......