§2613. In personam proceedings

A.(1) A forfeiture may be ordered by a court on proceedings brought by the district attorney on behalf of the state in an in personam civil action alleging conduct giving rise to forfeiture if it is authorized by law. This action shall be in addition to or in lieu of in rem forfeiture procedures.

(2) In any proceeding pursuant to this Chapter, the court, on application of the district attorney, may enter any order authorized by Section 2611 of this Chapter.

B. The court may issue a temporary restraining order under the provisions of this Section on application of the district attorney, without notice or an opportunity for a hearing, if the state demonstrates that:

(1) There is probable cause to believe that in the event of a final judgment or conviction, the property involved would be subject to forfeiture under the provisions of this Chapter.

(2) Provision of notice would jeopardize the availability of the property for forfeiture.

C. Notice of issuance of a temporary restraining order and an opportunity for a hearing shall be given to persons known to have an interest in the property. A hearing shall be held at the earliest possible date in accordance with the provisions of C.C.P. Arts. 3601 and 3603 et seq. and shall be limited to the issues of whether:

(1) There is a probability that the state will prevail on the issue of forfeiture and that failure to enter the order will result in the property being destroyed, conveyed, alienated, encumbered, further encumbered, disposed of, purchased, received, removed from the jurisdiction of the court, concealed, or otherwise made unavailable for forfeiture.

(2) The need to preserve the availability of property through the entry of the requested order outweighs the hardship on any owner or interest holder against whom the order is to be entered.

D. On a determination of liability of a person for conduct giving rise to forfeiture under this Chapter, the court shall enter a judgment of forfeiture of the property described in the petition and shall also authorize the district attorney or his designee to seize all property ordered forfeited which was not previously seized or is not then under seizure. Following the entry of an order declaring the property forfeited, the court, on application of the district attorney, may enter any appropriate order to protect the interest of the state in the property ordered forfeited.

E. Following the entry of an order of forfeiture under Subsection D of this Section, the district attorney may give Notice of Pending Forfeiture, in the manner provided in Section 2608 of this Chapter, to all owners and interest holders who have not previously been given notice.

F. An owner of or interest holder in property that has been ordered forfeited and whose claim is not precluded may file a claim as described in Section 2610 of this Chapter within thirty days after initial Notice of Pending Forfeiture or after notice under Subsection E of this Section, whichever is earlier. If the state does not stipulate to the claim, the court shall hold the hearing and determine the claim without a jury and in the manner provided for in rem judicial forfeiture actions, as provided in Section 2612 of this Chapter.

G. In accordance with findings made at the hearing, the court may amend the order of forfeiture if it determines that any claimant has established by a preponderance of the evidence that the claimant has an interest in the property and that the claimant's interest is exempt under the provision of Section 2605 of this Chapter.

H. Except as provided in Section 2611 of this Chapter, no person claiming an interest in property subject to forfeiture under this Chapter may intervene in a trial or appeal of a criminal action or in an in personam civil action involving the forfeiture of the property.

Acts 1989, No. 375, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1990.