1. A judicial in rem forfeiture proceeding may be brought by the prosecuting attorney in addition to, or in lieu of, civil in personam forfeiture procedures, and is also subject to the provisions of this section. If a forfeiture is authorized by this chapter, it shall be ordered by the court in the in rem action.
2. An action in rem may be brought by the prosecuting attorney pursuant to a notice of pending forfeiture or verified complaint for forfeiture. The state may serve the complaint in the manner provided in section 809A.8, subsection 2, or as provided by the rules of civil procedure.
3. Only an owner of or an interest holder in the property who has timely filed a proper claim pursuant to section 809A.11 may file an answer in an action in rem. For the purposes of this section, an owner of or interest holder in property who has filed a claim and answer shall be referred to as a claimant.
4. The answer shall be signed by the owner or interest holder under penalty of perjury and shall be in accordance with rule of civil procedure 1.405 and shall also set forth all of the following:
a. The caption of the proceedings and identifying number, if any, as set forth on the notice of pending forfeiture or complaint and the name of the claimant.
b. The address where the claimant will accept mail.
c. The nature and extent of the claimant's interest in the property.
d. The date, the identity of the transferor, and the circumstances of the claimant's acquisition of the interest in the property.
e. The specific provision of this chapter relied on in asserting that it is not subject to forfeiture.
f. All essential facts supporting each assertion.
g. The specific relief sought.
5. The answer shall be filed within twenty days after service on the claimant of the civil in rem complaint.
6. The rules of civil procedure shall apply to discovery by the state and any claimant who has timely answered the complaint.
7. The forfeiture hearing shall be held without a jury and within sixty days after service of the complaint unless continued for good cause. The prosecuting attorney shall have the initial burden of proving the property is subject to forfeiture by a preponderance of the evidence. If the state so proves the property is subject to forfeiture, the claimant has the burden of proving that the claimant has an interest in the property which is exempt from forfeiture under this chapter by a preponderance of the evidence.
8. The court shall order the interest in the property returned or conveyed to the claimant if the prosecuting attorney fails to meet the state's burden or the claimant establishes by a preponderance of the evidence that the claimant has an interest that is exempt from forfeiture. The court shall order all other property forfeited to the state and conduct further proceedings pursuant to sections 809A.16 and 809A.17.
96 Acts, ch 1133, §13
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