CHICAGO A federal appeals court has ruled owners of vehicles seized in drug cases are entitled to speedy hearings to determine if authorities can hold on to the property.
A class-action lawsuit contended the due-process rights of vehicle owners were violated because the vehicles or other property were being held by authorities for months before hearings were held.
Several plaintiffs, who haven’t been charged with a crime, have waited more than a year for a hearing.
The vehicles and other property were seized under the Illinois Drug Asset Forfeiture Procedure Act. The city of Chicago and Cook County state’s attorney’s office are defendants in the lawsuit.
The appeals court sent the case back to U.S. District Court and ordered the creation of a hearing process. Chicago Law Department spokeswoman Jennifer Hoyle says the city will cooperate. (AP)
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