Which party is typically the plaintiff in civil asset forfeiture actions?

• A. A private citizen.
• B. The government.
• C. A private investigator.
• D. A court.

Answer: (B)

In civil asset forfeiture actions, the government is the party that brings the case. A government agency—such as a police department, district attorney, or federal agency—files the forfeiture action against the property (an in rem proceeding) or, in some situations, against the owner as needed, seeking to forfeit assets tied to criminal activity. The owner or other interested parties can contest the seizure, but the plaintiff is the government, not a private citizen or the court itself. Private investigators don’t initiate forfeiture actions, since they lack standing to sue; the court provides the venue and decides the case.