Filed: Aug. 23, 2000
Latest Update: Mar. 02, 2020
Summary: IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT No. 99-40936 Conference Calendar UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Plaintiff-Appellee, versus ONE PIECE OF REAL PROPERTY LOCATED IN HIDALGO COUNTY, TEXAS, Defendant, TERESA MENDIOLA, Claimant-Appellant, - - - - - - - - - - Appeal from the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas USDC No. M-97-CV-283 - - - - - - - - - - August 22, 2000 Before KING, Chief Judge, and POLITZ and WIENER, Circuit Judges. PER CURIAM:* Teresa Men
Summary: IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT No. 99-40936 Conference Calendar UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Plaintiff-Appellee, versus ONE PIECE OF REAL PROPERTY LOCATED IN HIDALGO COUNTY, TEXAS, Defendant, TERESA MENDIOLA, Claimant-Appellant, - - - - - - - - - - Appeal from the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas USDC No. M-97-CV-283 - - - - - - - - - - August 22, 2000 Before KING, Chief Judge, and POLITZ and WIENER, Circuit Judges. PER CURIAM:* Teresa Mend..
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IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT
No. 99-40936
Conference Calendar
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
Plaintiff-Appellee,
versus
ONE PIECE OF REAL PROPERTY
LOCATED IN HIDALGO COUNTY, TEXAS,
Defendant,
TERESA MENDIOLA,
Claimant-Appellant,
- - - - - - - - - -
Appeal from the United States District Court
for the Southern District of Texas
USDC No. M-97-CV-283
- - - - - - - - - -
August 22, 2000
Before KING, Chief Judge, and POLITZ and WIENER, Circuit Judges.
PER CURIAM:*
Teresa Mendiola appeals from a jury’s finding that she knew
of and consented to drug trafficking activity on her property.
In accordance with the jury’s finding on this subject, the
district court ordered the forfeiture of Mendiola’s property
pursuant to 21 U.S.C. § 881(a)(7). Mendiola argues that the
district court abused its discretion when it did not include the
*
Pursuant to 5TH CIR. R. 47.5, the court has determined
that this opinion should not be published and is not precedent
except under the limited circumstances set forth in 5TH CIR.
R. 47.5.4.
No. 99-40936
-2-
requirement of actual knowledge in the jury verdict form as
requested by her. In her notice of appeal, Mendiola indicated
that she was seeking review from the district court’s denial of
her motion for a new trial, but she did not designate the
underlying judgment for appeal. Nevertheless, the Government
addressed the underlying judgment in its brief and was not
prejudiced by Mendiola’s failure to comply strictly with Fed. R.
App. P. 3(c). See Turnbull v. United States,
929 F.2d 173, 176-
77 (5th Cir. 1991).
Although not included in the written verdict form, the
district court orally instructed the jury that it must find
actual as opposed to constructive knowledge. See United States
v. Jones,
132 F.3d 232, 245 (5th Cir. 1998). Likewise,
Mendiola’s attorney emphasized to the jury during closing
argument that the knowledge must be actual rather than
constructive. See Bernard v. IBP, Inc. of Nebraska,
154 F.3d
259, 265 (5th Cir. 1998); Consolidated Cigar Co. v. Texas
Commerce Bank,
749 F.2d 1169, 1173 (5th Cir. 1985). The district
court did not abuse its discretion when it denied Mendiola’s
request that the term “actual knowledge” be included in the
verdict form. See McCoy v. Hernandez,
203 F.3d 371, 375 (5th
Cir. 2000). Accordingly, the judgment of the district court is
AFFIRMED.