Fishman declined to comment directly on the pending forfeiture action.

The heirs brought suit against the government in 2006, and a federal judge ordered the government to file a forfeiture action regarding the coins.

He said he was facing forfeiture actions in three cities, totaling nearly $1 million.

As of Dec. 31, the police had seized 1,458 cars; the police began forfeiture actions in 827 of those seizures.

In a forfeiture action the landlord must notify any person entitled to relief of whom he is aware (Ord 6, r 3(b).

"To be rendered homeless for several months or more while a civil forfeiture action is pending may be traumatic and permanently damaging."

That upset the police so much that they arrested him and obtained his boat in a forfeiture action.

Once a prosecution begins, the forfeiture action runs parallel to it, but the distribution is not made until the criminal action is completed.

And on Wednesday, a federal judge dismissed the forfeiture action against the domain.

Mr. Stratton says that because the government dropped its forfeiture action, the courts should return possession to the seller.