Press Article
Springfield Faces Fallout from Drug Lab Misconduct Amid Ongoing Legal Battles
SPRINGFIELD — In the wake of serious misconduct at state drug labs in Amherst and Boston, over 30,000 cases were dismissed in 2017 and 2018. However, a federal class action lawsuit is still moving forward, aimed at the automatic return of property seized through civil asset forfeiture from individuals wrongfully charged.
At the center of the lawsuit is a request to the U.S. Supreme Court for an extension to file a formal petition, after the plaintiffs claimed they needed additional time to prepare. The plaintiffs argue that despite “unprecedented government malfeasance” linked to the lab scandals, law enforcement retains millions of dollars in cash and property wrongfully taken from innocent citizens.
The state’s highest court had ruled against automatic refunds for property seized through civil forfeiture, stating individuals must file separate motions to reclaim their assets. Plaintiffs include Jennifer Cotto from Ludlow, who lost $518 during a drug arrest later dismissed due to the scandal. Other claimants from Western Massachusetts also report substantial losses.
In January, a federal appeals court dismissed the case due to the 11th Amendment, which limits individuals from suing states in federal court. Hampden District Attorney Anthony Gulluni defended the ruling, attributing the lawsuit’s continuation to external funding sources.
As the plaintiffs now approach the Supreme Court, they argue that the retention of seized property violates the Eighth and Fourteenth Amendments. The high court is not required to hear the case, with only about 100 to 150 of over 7,000 petitions typically accepted each year. The plaintiffs’ formal petition is due by June 20.
Legal representatives and the Attorney General’s Office declined to comment further, while the American Civil Liberties Union denied involvement in this particular litigation, distancing from previous engagements in related cases.
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