Jerry Satran and David Bass Secure the Return of $1.1 Million Dollars Seized from Lawfully Operating Armored Car Business Transporting Legal Cannabis Proceeds

Sacramento partners Jerry Satran and David Bass secured the return of approximately $1.1 million dollars that was seized from KNCH client Empyreal Logistics, LLC. In January, KNCH along with the Institute for Justice filed on behalf of Pennsylvania-based Empyreal a civil rights lawsuit accusing federal and local law enforcement of unlawfully searching their vehicles and seizing money from cannabis clients to reap gains through civil forfeiture.

The federal parties named as defendants included the DOJ and Attorney General Merrick Garland; the FBI, its director and an assistant director overseeing the FBI’s Los Angeles field office; and the Drug Enforcement Administration and its administrator.

The lawsuit was featured on the cover of the L.A. Times and garnered national coverage. Many in the industry consider this to be a landmark action for the cannabis industry. Partner David Bass maintains a unique practice in the cannabis space, primarily focusing on banking and liability issues facing the cannabis industry, and has been a speaker on cannabis issues since 2018.

The case is Empyreal Enterprises LLC v. U.S. et al., case number 5:22-cv-00094, in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California. The Irvine Office was key to assisting in the filing of the initial documents, with special participation by KNCH associate Danialla Litvak.

Jerry R. Satran, Partner       David C. Bass, Partner