Detroit, Michigan Asset Forfeiture Attorney

Under state and federal law, the government can seize property or assets it believes were involved in criminal activity. Unlike criminal forfeitures where the assets seized as proceeds from illegal activity and included in a criminal charge, in civil forfeitures a property owner doesn't have to be involved in a crime to have their property taken. If, for instance, a friend or relative borrows your car and it is implicated in a "specified unlawful activity," the government can seize it even though you did not commit a crime and had nothing to do with it. James w. Burdick is highly experienced in unraveling a government allegation against the property of a client by proving the client is an "innocent owner" under the forfeiture statue, 18 U.S.C. 983 and, therefore, entitled to all his or her property back.

Unfortunately, a number of police departments and municipalities fund many of their pet project and programs through criminal and civil forfeitures, and the trend is getting so much worse that it's like the Wild West out there. That means police and the government have great financial incentives to look for any excuse to take property they've no good reason to take and hope that, at the very least, they will be able to negotiate a good size hunk for their departments even from wholly innocent people. While the Civil Asset Forfeiture Reform Act of 2000 (CAFRA, 18 U.S.C 983) has introduced many reforms and forced the government to bring its case quickly, or give the back the property, groundless civil forfeitures still plague innocent, hardworking citizens like you.

At Burdick Law, P.C., James W. Burdick fights civil forfeitures initiated by the government. If you've had property or assets seized, contact Burdick Law, P.C. today to schedule an appointment and learn how we can help you.

Defending against Civil Forfeiture

In order for a civil forfeiture to uphold a challenge, the government must prove that the property is forfeitable, and then the burden of proof, in federal cases, reverts to the property owner to prove that it is not! So, in challenging civil forfeitures, it's important to critically examine the government's reasons for seizing the property in question in the first place. All too often, a civil forfeiture takes place for tenuous reasons at best. As your attorney, James W. Burdick exposes mistakes and violations of due process on the part of government agents in civil forfeiture cases.

Contact Civil Forfeiture Attorney James W. Burdick Today

If you have lost property or assets are threatened by a civil forfeiture case, contact attorney James W. Burdick today to learn how we can help you. Regardless of what you've been told or led to believe after talking to law enforcement, government agents, or unsophisticated or inexperienced attorneys, you can challenge the forfeiture without going broke in the process.