Court Rejects State’s Petition for Forfeiture of Home

The Circuit Court for Worcester County, Maryland, denied the State’s Attorney’s Petition for Forfeiture of Houlon Bermans’ client’s home even after he was convicted of a drug felony. The felony case involved the execution of a search warrant at the client’s home and resulted in the recovery of a large quantity of cocaine, cash and evidence suggesting that the client’s garage was being used as a gathering place for the use of drugs and alcohol. The Court denied the State’s Petition for Forfeiture based on Constitutional issues raised by counsel, in the end ruling that forfeiture would amount to an “Excessive Fine” under Maryland and Federal Constitutional Law.