13-4314. Disposition by court

A. If no petitions for remission or mitigation or claims are timely filed or if no petitioner files a claim in the court within thirty days after the mailing of a declaration of forfeiture, the attorney for the state shall apply to the court for an order of forfeiture and allocation of forfeited property pursuant to section 13-4315. On the state's written application showing jurisdiction, notice and facts sufficient to demonstrate probable cause for forfeiture, and in cases brought pursuant to section 13-3413, subsection A, paragraph 1 or 3, probable cause to believe that the conduct giving rise to forfeiture involved an amount of unlawful substance greater than the statutory threshold amount as defined in section 13-3401 or was committed for financial gain, the court shall order the property forfeited to the state.

B. After the court's disposition of all claims timely filed under this chapter, the state has clear title to the forfeited property and the court shall so order. Title to the forfeited property and its proceeds is deemed to have vested in the state on the commission of the act or omission giving rise to the forfeiture under this title.

C. If, in his discretion, the attorney for the state has entered into a stipulation with an interest holder that the interest holder has an interest that is exempted from forfeiture, the court, on application of the attorney for the state, may release or convey forfeited personal property to the interest holder if all of the following are true:

1. The interest holder has an interest that was acquired in the regular course of business as a financial institution within section 13-2301, subsection D, paragraph 3.

2. The amount of the interest holder's encumbrance is readily determinable and it has been reasonably established by proof made available by the attorney for the state to the court.

3. The encumbrance held by the interest holder seeking possession is the only interest exempted from forfeiture and the order forfeiting the property to the state transferred all of the rights of the owner before forfeiture, including rights to redemption, to the state.

4. After the court's release or conveyance, the interest holder shall dispose of the property by a commercially reasonable public sale, and within ten days of disposition shall tender to the state the amount received at disposition less the amount of the interest holder's encumbrance and reasonable expense incurred by the interest holder in connection with the sale or disposal.

D. On order of the court forfeiting the subject property, the attorney for the state may transfer good and sufficient title to any subsequent purchaser or transferee, and the title shall be recognized by all courts, by this state and by all departments and agencies of this state and any political subdivision.

E. On entry of judgment for a claimant or claimants in any proceeding to forfeit property under this chapter such property or interest in property shall be returned or conveyed immediately to the claimant or claimants designated by the court. The person or seizing agency that made the seizure and the attorney for the state are not personally liable to suit or judgment on account of such seizure, suit or prosecution unless the person, seizing agency or attorney for the state intended to cause injury or was grossly negligent.

F. The court may award reasonable attorney fees, expenses and damages for loss of the use of the property to any claimant who substantially prevails by an adjudication on the merits of a claim. If the court finds that reasonable cause did not exist for the seizure for forfeiture or the filing of the notice of pending forfeiture, complaint, information or indictment and that the seizing agency or attorney for the state intended to cause injury or was grossly negligent, the court shall award the claimant treble costs or damages. The court must apportion the award for treble costs or damages between the agency that made the seizure and the office of the attorney for the state.