Section 49-4-146.3. Forfeiture of property and proceeds obtained through Medicaid fraud; fraud forfeiture proceedings; seizure of property subject to forfeiture; lien; inventory; court orders

   (a) As used in this Code section, the term:

   (1) "Costs" means, but is not limited to:

      (A) All expenses associated with the seizure, towing, storage, maintenance, custody, preservation, operation, or sale of the property; and

      (B) Satisfaction of any security interest or lien not subject to forfeiture under this Code section.

   (2) "Court costs" means, but is not limited to:

      (A) All court costs, including the costs of advertisement, transcripts, and court reporter fees; and

      (B) Payment of receivers, conservators, appraisers, accountants, or trustees appointed by the court pursuant to this Code section.

   (3) "Interest holder" means a secured party within the meaning of Code Section 11-9-102 or the beneficiary of a perfected encumbrance pertaining to an interest in property.

   (4) "Medicaid fraud" means:

      (A) A violation of Code Section 49-4-146.1; or

      (B) A violation relating to the obtaining of medical assistance benefits or payments under this article of any provision of:

         (i) Chapter 8 of Title 16, relating to offenses involving theft;

         (ii) Code Section 16-10-20, relating to false statements and writings, concealment of facts, and fraudulent documents in matters within jurisdiction of state or political subdivisions; or

         (iii) Code Section 16-10-21, relating to conspiracy to defraud the state or its political subdivisions.

   (5) "Owner" means a person, other than an interest holder, who has an interest in property and is in compliance with any statute requiring its recordation or reflection in public records in order to perfect the interest against a bona fide purchaser for value.

   (6) "Proceeds" means property derived from or realized through, directly or indirectly, Medicaid fraud and includes property of any kind without reduction for expenses incurred for acquisition, maintenance, or any other purpose.

   (7) "Property" means anything of value and includes any interest in anything of value, including real property and any fixtures thereon, and tangible and intangible personal property, including but not limited to currency, instruments, securities, or any kind of privilege, interest, claim, or right.

   (8) "Prosecutor" means a district attorney or his or her designee or the Attorney General or his or her designee.

(b) All property and proceeds obtained by a person or entity through or as a result of Medicaid fraud in the provision of services or equipment under this article are subject to forfeiture to the state by a Medicaid fraud forfeiture action brought by the state in accordance with this Code section. This Code section shall not apply to cases involving alleged fraud by Medicaid recipients in obtaining medical assistance benefits.

(c) A Medicaid fraud forfeiture proceeding shall be initiated by a complaint filed in the name of the State of Georgia and may be brought in the case of:

   (1) An in rem action, by the prosecutor in the county in which the property is located or seized; or

   (2) An in personam action, by the prosecutor in the county in which the defendant resides.
   (d)(1) An action pursuant to this Code section may be commenced before or after the seizure of property.

   (2) Any Medicaid fraud forfeiture action filed under this Code section shall be limited to a civil action.

(e) A property interest shall not be subject to forfeiture under this Code section if the owner of such interest or interest holder establishes that the owner or interest holder:

   (1) Is not legally accountable for the conduct giving rise to its forfeiture, did not consent to it, and did not know and there is no reason why he or she should have known of the conduct or that it was likely to occur;

   (2) Had not acquired and did not stand to acquire substantial proceeds from the conduct giving rise to its forfeiture other than as an interest holder in an arm's length commercial transaction;

   (3) With respect to conveyances for transportation only, did not hold the property jointly, in common, or in community with a person whose conduct gave rise to its forfeiture;

   (4) Does not hold the property for the benefit of or as nominee for any person whose conduct gave rise to its forfeiture, and, if the owner or interest holder acquired the interest through any such person, the owner or interest holder acquired it as a bona fide purchaser for value without knowingly taking part in an illegal transaction; and

   (5) Acquired the interest:

      (A) Before the completion of the conduct giving rise to its forfeiture, and the person whose conduct gave rise to its forfeiture did not have the authority to convey the interest to a bona fide purchaser for value at the time of the conduct; or

      (B) After the completion of the conduct giving rise to its forfeiture:

         (i) As a bona fide purchaser for value without knowingly taking part in an illegal transaction;

         (ii) Before the filing of a lien on it and before the effective date of a notice of pending forfeiture relating to it and without notice of its seizure for forfeiture under this article; and

         (iii) At the time the interest was acquired, was reasonably without cause to believe that the property was subject to forfeiture or likely to become subject to forfeiture under this article.

Upon the request of the owner or interest holder, for good cause shown, the court shall hold an expedited hearing to determine whether the property is subject to forfeiture under this Code section.

(f) A rented or leased vehicle shall not be subject to forfeiture unless it is established in forfeiture proceedings that the owner of the rented or leased vehicle is legally accountable for the conduct which would otherwise subject the vehicle to forfeiture, consented to the conduct, or knew or reasonably should have known of the conduct or that it was likely to occur. Upon learning of the address or phone number of the company which owns any rented or leased vehicle which is present at the scene of an arrest or other action taken pursuant to this Code section, the duly authorized authorities shall immediately contact the company to inform it that the vehicle is available for the company to take possession.
   (g)(1) Property which is subject to forfeiture under this Code section may be seized by any law enforcement officer of this state or of any political subdivision thereof who has power to make arrests or execute process or a search warrant issued by any superior court having jurisdiction over the property. A search warrant authorizing seizure of property which is subject to forfeiture pursuant to this Code section may be issued at an ex parte hearing before a superior court judge of a county where the forfeiture action may be brought demonstrating that probable cause exists for its forfeiture or that the property has been the subject of a previous final judgment of forfeiture in the courts of this state, any other state, or the United States. The court may order that the property be seized on such terms and conditions as are reasonable. In entering any such seizure order, the court shall determine that appropriate conditions are included to ensure the physical safety and well-being of any recipients or patients who may be affected by such warrant and that sufficient steps will be taken to ensure that patient medical records are kept confidential. The property owner or interest holder, within ten days of the seizure of property taken pursuant to a search warrant, may make a written demand to the court with notice to the prosecutor for a hearing to determine if probable cause still exists for the seized property to be subject to forfeiture pursuant to this Code section. Said hearing shall be held within 20 days of said demand unless continued by the court for good cause.

   (2) At the ex parte hearing for the issuance of a search warrant authorizing the seizure of property under paragraph (1) of this subsection, a reasonable estimate of the approximate fair market value of the property sought to be seized shall be presented to the court. Based upon such evidence, the court shall establish a bond amount for the release of any property ordered seized, not to exceed double the fair market value of that property. The property owner or interest holder may file in the clerk's office of the court where the forfeiture action is brought, a bond with good security, conditioned for the payment of the bond amount established by the court. The bond shall be subject to approval by the clerk of the court. Upon receipt of a bond deemed acceptable by the clerk, the court which ordered the seizure of the property shall issue an order to the persons having custody of the seized property to release such property to the property owner or interest holder filing such bond, unless the property is being held as evidence. If the seized property so released is ordered to be forfeited, the state shall be entitled to entry of judgment upon such bond against the principal and sureties therein, as judgment may be entered against securities upon appeal. If the property seized is released pursuant to this paragraph and is later otherwise required to be released under any other provision of this Code section, the principal and sureties upon any bond given for the release of such property under this paragraph shall also be released from their obligations under that bond.
   (h)(1) When property is seized pursuant to this article, the sheriff or law enforcement officer seizing the same shall report the fact of seizure, in writing, within 20 days thereof to the prosecutor of the judicial circuit having jurisdiction in the county where the seizure was made.

   (2) Within 30 days from the date of seizure, a complaint for forfeiture shall be initiated as provided for in subsection (n), (o), or (p) of this Code section.

   (3) If the state fails to initiate forfeiture proceedings against property seized for forfeiture by notice of pending forfeiture within the time limits specified in paragraphs (1) and (2) of this subsection, the property must be released on the request of an owner or interest holder, pending further proceedings pursuant to this Code section, unless the property is being held as evidence.
   (i)(1) Seizure of property by a law enforcement officer constitutes notice of such seizure to any person who was present at the time of seizure who may assert an interest in the property.

   (2) When property is seized pursuant to this article, the prosecutor or the sheriff or law enforcement officer seizing the same shall give notice of the seizure to any owner or interest holder who is not present at the time of seizure by personal service, publication, or the mailing of written notice:

      (A) If the owner's or interest holder's name and current address are known, by either personal service or mailing a copy of the notice by certified mail or statutory overnight delivery to that address;

      (B) If the owner's or interest holder's name and address are required by law to be on record with a government agency to perfect an interest in the property but the owner's or interest holder's current address is not known, by mailing a copy of the notice by certified mail or statutory overnight delivery, return receipt requested, to any address on the record; or

      (C) If the owner's or interest holder's address is not known and is not on record as provided in subparagraph (B) of this paragraph or the owner's or interest holder's interest is not known, by publication in two consecutive issues of a newspaper of general circulation in the county in which the seizure occurs.

   (3) Notice of seizure must include a description of the property, the date and place of seizure, the conduct giving rise to forfeiture, and the violation of law alleged.

(j) A prosecutor may file, without a filing fee, a lien for forfeiture of property upon the initiation of any civil proceeding under this article or upon seizure for forfeiture. The filing constitutes notice to any person claiming an interest in the property owned by the named person. The filing shall include the following:

   (1) The lien notice must set forth:

      (A) The name of the person and, in the discretion of the state, any alias and any corporations, partnerships, trusts, or other entities, including nominees, that are either owned entirely or in part or controlled by the person; and

      (B) The description of the property, the civil proceeding that has been brought under this article, the amount claimed by the state, the name of the court where the proceeding or action has been brought, and the case number of the proceeding or action if known at the time of filing;

   (2) A lien under this subsection applies to the described property and to one named person and to any aliases, fictitious names, or other names, including names of corporations, partnerships, trusts, or other entities, that are either owned entirely or in part or controlled by the named person and any interest in real property owned or controlled by the named person. A separate lien for forfeiture of property must be filed for any other person;

   (3) The lien creates, upon filing, a lien in favor of the state as it relates to the seized property or to the named person or related entities with respect to said property. The lien secures the amount of potential liability for civil judgment and, if applicable, the fair market value of seized property relating to all proceedings under this article enforcing the lien. The forfeiture lien referred to in this subsection must be filed in accordance with the provisions of the laws in this state pertaining to the type of property that is subject to the lien. The state may amend or release, in whole or in part, a lien filed under this subsection at any time by filing, without a filing fee, an amended lien in accordance with this subsection which identifies the lien amended. The state, as soon as practical after filing a lien, shall furnish to any person named in the lien a notice of the filing of the lien;

   (4) Upon entry of judgment in favor of the state, the state may proceed to execute on the lien as in the case of any other judgment;

   (5) A trustee, constructive or otherwise, who has notice that a lien for forfeiture of property, a notice of pending forfeiture, or a civil forfeiture proceeding has been filed against the property or against any person or entity for whom the person holds title or appears as the owner of record shall furnish, within ten days, to the prosecutor or the prosecutor's designee the following information:

      (A) The name and address of the person or entity for whom the property is held;

      (B) The names and addresses of all beneficiaries for whose benefit legal title to the seized property, or property of the named person or related entity, is held; and

      (C) A copy of the applicable trust agreement or other instrument, if any, under which the trustee or other person holds legal title or appears as the owner of record of the property; and

   (6) A trustee, constructive or otherwise, who fails to comply with this subsection shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.

(k) Property taken or detained under this Code section is not subject to replevin, conveyance, sequestration, or attachment. The seizing law enforcement agency or the prosecutor may authorize the release of the property if the forfeiture or retention is unnecessary or may transfer the action to another agency or prosecutor by discontinuing forfeiture proceedings in favor of forfeiture proceedings initiated by the other law enforcement agency or prosecutor. An action under this Code section may be consolidated with any other action or proceeding under this article relating to the same property on motion by an interest holder and must be so consolidated on motion by the prosecutor in either proceeding or action. The property is deemed to be in the custody of the State of Georgia subject only to the orders and decrees of the superior court having jurisdiction over the forfeiture proceedings.
   (l)(1) If property is seized under this article, the prosecutor may:

      (A) Remove the property to a place designated by the superior court having jurisdiction over the forfeiture proceeding;

      (B) Place the property under constructive seizure by posting notice of pending forfeiture, by giving notice of pending forfeiture to its owners and interest holders, or by filing notice of seizure in any appropriate public record relating to the property;

      (C) Remove the property to a storage area, within the jurisdiction of the court, for safekeeping or, if the property is a negotiable instrument or money and is not needed for evidentiary purposes, the prosecutor may authorize its being deposited in an interest-bearing account in a financial institution in this state. Any accrued interest shall follow the principal in any judgment with respect thereto;

      (D) Provide for another governmental agency, a receiver appointed by the court pursuant to Chapter 8 of Title 9, an owner, or an interest holder to take custody of the property and remove it to an appropriate location within the county where the property was seized; or

      (E) Require the sheriff or chief of police of the political subdivision where the property was seized to take custody of the property and remove it to an appropriate location for disposition in accordance with law.

   (2) If any property which has been attached or seized pursuant to this Code section is perishable or is liable to perish, waste, or be greatly reduced in value by keeping or if the expense of keeping the same is excessive or disproportionate to the value thereof, the court, upon motion of the state, a claimant, or the custodian, may order the property or any portion thereof to be sold upon such terms and conditions as may be prescribed by the court; and the proceeds shall be paid into the registry of the court pending final disposition of the action.

(m) As soon as possible, but not more than 30 days after the seizure of property, the seizing law enforcement agency shall conduct an inventory and estimate the value of the property seized. All reasonable steps shall be taken so as not to interfere with or disrupt the provision of medical care by the provider when such inventory is conducted. Such inventory shall be conducted in a manner which assures the confidentiality of patient medical records.

(n) If the estimated value of personal property seized is $25,000.00 or less, the prosecutor may elect to proceed under the provisions of this subsection in the following manner:

   (1) Notice of the seizure of such property shall be posted in a prominent location in the courthouse of the county in which the property was seized. Such notice shall include a description of the property, the date and place of seizure, the conduct giving rise to forfeiture, a statement that the owner of such property has 30 days within which a claim must be filed, and the violation of law alleged;

   (2) A copy of the notice, which shall include a statement that the owner of such property has 30 days within which a claim must be filed, shall be served upon an owner, interest holder, or person in possession of the property at the time of seizure as provided in subsection (i) of this Code section and shall be published for at least three successive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation in the county where the seizure was made;

   (3) The owner or interest holder may file a claim within 30 days after the second publication of the notice of forfeiture by sending the claim to the seizing law enforcement agency and to the prosecutor by certified mail or statutory overnight delivery, return receipt requested;

   (4) The claim must be signed by the owner or interest holder under penalty of perjury and must substantially set forth:

      (A) The caption of the proceedings as set forth on the notice of pending forfeiture and the name of the claimant;

      (B) The address at which the claimant will accept mail;

      (C) The nature and extent of the claimant's interest in the property;

      (D) The date, identity of the transferor, and circumstances of the claimant's acquisition of the interest in the property;

      (E) The specific provision of this Code section relied on in asserting that the property is not subject to forfeiture; and

      (F) The precise relief sought;

   (5) If a claim is filed, the prosecutor shall file a complaint for forfeiture as provided in subsection (o) or (p) of this Code section within 30 days of the actual receipt of the claim. A person who files a claim shall be joined as a party; and

   (6) If no claim is filed within 30 days after the second publication of the notice of forfeiture, all right, title, and interest in the property are forfeited to the state and the prosecutor shall dispose of the property as provided in subsection (u) of this Code section.

(o) In rem proceedings.

   (1) In actions in rem, the property which is the subject of the action shall be named as the defendant. The complaint shall be verified on oath or affirmation by a duly authorized agent of the state in a manner required by the laws of this state. Such complaint shall describe the property with reasonable particularity; state that it is located within the county or will be located within the county during the pendency of the action; state its present custodian; state the name of the owner or interest holder, if known; allege the essential elements of the violation which is claimed to exist; state the place of seizure, if the property was seized; and conclude with a prayer of due process to enforce the forfeiture.

   (2) A copy of the complaint and summons shall be served on any person known to be an owner or interest holder and any person who is in possession of the property.

      (A) Service of the complaint and summons shall be as provided in subsections (a), (b), (c), and (e) of Code Section 9-11-4.

      (B) If real property is the subject of the action or the owner or interest holder is unknown or resides out of the state or departs the state or cannot after due diligence be found within the state or conceals himself or herself so as to avoid service, notice of the proceeding shall be published once a week for two successive weeks in the newspaper in which the sheriff's advertisements are published. Such publication shall be deemed notice to any and all persons having an interest in or right affected by such proceeding and from any sale of the property resulting therefrom, but shall not constitute notice to an interest holder unless that person is unknown or resides out of the state or departs the state or cannot after due diligence be found within the state or conceals himself or herself to avoid service.

      (C) If tangible property which has not been seized is the subject of the action, the court may order the sheriff or another law enforcement officer to take possession of the property. If the character or situation of the property is such that the taking of actual possession is impracticable, the sheriff shall execute process by affixing a copy of the complaint and summons to the property in a conspicuous place and by leaving another copy of the complaint and summons with the person having possession or such person's agent. In cases involving a vessel or aircraft, the sheriff or other law enforcement officer is authorized to make a written request with the appropriate governmental agency not to permit the departure of such vessel or aircraft until notified by the sheriff or the sheriff's deputy that the vessel or aircraft has been released.

   (3) An owner of or interest holder in the property may file an answer asserting a claim against the property in the action in rem. Any such answer shall be filed within 30 days after the service of the summons and complaint. Where service is made by publication and personal service has not been made, an owner or interest holder shall file an answer within 30 days of the date of final publication. An answer must be verified by the owner or interest holder under penalty of perjury. In addition to complying with the general rules applicable to an answer in civil actions, the answer must substantially set forth:

      (A) The caption of the proceedings as set forth in the complaint and the name of the claimant;

      (B) The address at which the claimant will accept mail;

      (C) The nature and extent of the claimant's interest in the property;

      (D) The date, identity of transferor, and circumstances of the claimant's acquisition of the interest in the property;

      (E) The specific provision of this Code section relied on in asserting that the property is not subject to forfeiture; and

      (F) The precise relief sought.

   (4) If at the expiration of the period set forth in paragraph (3) of this subsection no answer has been filed, the court shall order the disposition of the seized property as provided for in this Code section.

   (5) If an answer is filed, a hearing must be held within 60 days after service of the complaint unless continued for good cause and must be held by the court with a jury unless waived by the claimant.

   (6) An action in rem may be brought by the state in addition to or in lieu of any other in rem or in personam action brought pursuant to this article.

(p) In personam proceedings.

   (1) The complaint shall be verified on oath or affirmation by a duly authorized agent of the state in a manner required by the laws of this state. It shall describe with reasonable particularity the property which is sought to be forfeited; state its present custodian; state the name of the owner or interest holder, if known; allege the essential elements of the violation which is claimed to exist; state the place of seizure, if the property was seized; and conclude with a prayer of due process to enforce the forfeiture.

   (2) Service of the complaint and summons shall be as follows:

      (A) Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, service of the complaint and summons shall be as provided by subsections (a), (b), (c), and (d) of Code Section 9-11-4; and

      (B) If the defendant is unknown or resides out of the state or departs the state or cannot after due diligence be found within the state or conceals himself or herself so as to avoid service, notice of the proceedings shall be published once a week for two successive weeks in the newspaper in which the sheriff's advertisements are published. Such publication shall be deemed sufficient notice to any such defendant.

   (3) A defendant shall file a verified answer within 30 days after the service of the summons and complaint. Where service is made by publication and personal service has not been made, a defendant shall file such answer within 30 days of the date of final publication. In addition to complying with the general rules applicable to an answer in civil actions, the answer must contain all of the elements set forth in paragraph (3) of subsection (o) of this Code section.

   (4) Any interest holder or person in possession of the property may join any action brought pursuant to this subsection as provided by Chapter 11 of Title 9, known as the "Georgia Civil Practice Act."

   (5) If at the expiration of the period set forth in paragraph (3) of this subsection no answer has been filed, the court shall order the disposition of the seized property as provided for in this Code section.

   (6) If an answer is filed, a hearing must be held within 60 days after service of the complaint unless continued for good cause and must be held by the court with a jury unless waived by the claimant.

   (7) On a determination of liability of a person for conduct giving rise to forfeiture under this Code section, the court must enter a judgment of forfeiture of the property described in the complaint and must also authorize the prosecutor or the prosecutor's agent or any law enforcement officer or peace officer to seize all property ordered to be forfeited which was not previously seized or was not then under seizure. Following the entry of an order declaring the property forfeited, the court, on application of the state, may enter any appropriate order to protect the interest of the state in the property ordered to be forfeited.

(q) In conjunction with any civil action brought pursuant to this article:

   (1) The court, on application of the prosecutor, may enter any restraining order or injunction; require the execution of satisfactory performance bonds; appoint receivers, conservators, appraisers, accountants, or trustees; or take any action to seize, secure, maintain, or preserve the availability of property subject to forfeiture under this article, including issuing a warrant for its seizure and writ of attachment, whether before or after the filing of a complaint for forfeiture;

   (2) A temporary restraining order under this Code section may be entered on application of the prosecutor, without notice or an opportunity for a hearing, if the prosecutor demonstrates that:

      (A) There is probable cause to believe that the property with respect to which the order is sought, in the event of final judgment or conviction, would be subject to forfeiture under this article; and

      (B) Provision of notice would jeopardize the availability of the property for forfeiture;

   (3) Notice of the entry of a restraining order and an opportunity for a hearing must be afforded to persons known to have an interest in the property. The hearing must be held at the earliest possible date consistent with the date set in subsection (b) of Code Section 9-11-65 and is limited to the issues of whether:

      (A) There is a probability that the state will prevail on the issue of forfeiture and that failure to enter the order will result in the property's being destroyed, conveyed, encumbered, removed from the jurisdiction of the court, concealed, or otherwise made unavailable for forfeiture; and

      (B) The need to preserve the availability of property through the entry of the requested order outweighs the hardship on any owner or interest holder against whom the order is to be entered;

   (4) If property is seized for forfeiture or a forfeiture lien is filed without a previous judicial determination of probable cause or order of forfeiture or a hearing under paragraph (2) of this subsection, the court, on an application filed by an owner of or interest holder in the property within 30 days after notice of its seizure or lien or actual knowledge of such seizure or lien, whichever is earlier, and complying with the requirements for an answer to an in rem complaint, and after five days' notice to the prosecutor of the judicial circuit where the property was seized or, in the case of a forfeiture lien, to the prosecutor filing such lien, may issue an order to show cause to the seizing law enforcement agency for a hearing on the sole issue of whether probable cause for forfeiture of the property then exists. The hearing must be held within 30 days unless continued for good cause on motion of either party. If the court finds that there is no probable cause for forfeiture of the property, the property must be released pending the outcome of a judicial proceeding which may be filed pursuant to this Code section; and

   (5) The court may order property that has been seized for forfeiture to be sold to satisfy a specified interest of any interest holder, on motion of any party, and after notice and a hearing, on the conditions that:

      (A) The interest holder has filed a proper claim and:

         (i) Is authorized to do business in this state and is under the jurisdiction of a governmental agency of this state or of the United States which regulates financial institutions, securities, insurance, or real estate; or

         (ii) Has an interest that the prosecutor has stipulated is exempt from forfeiture;

      (B) The interest holder must dispose of the property by commercially reasonable public sale and apply the proceeds first to its interest and then to its reasonable expenses incurred in connection with the sale or disposal; and

      (C) The balance of the proceeds, if any, must be returned to the actual or constructive custody of the court, in an interest-bearing account, subject to further proceedings under this Code section.

(r) An acquittal or a dismissal or a conviction in any criminal proceeding, either by a verdict or a plea of guilty or nolo contendere, shall be admissible in evidence in any proceeding pursuant to this Code section.

(s) In hearings and determinations pursuant to this Code section:

   (1) The court may receive and consider, in making any determination of probable cause or reasonable cause, all evidence admissible in determining probable cause at a preliminary hearing or by a magistrate pursuant to Article 1 of Chapter 5 of Title 17, together with inferences therefrom; and

   (2) The fact that the state has established probable cause to believe that a person has engaged in conduct giving rise to forfeiture or that the property was acquired by a person during a period of the conduct giving rise to forfeiture or within a reasonable time thereafter shall not give rise to any presumption, rebuttable or otherwise, that the property is subject to forfeiture. The state shall, at all times, have the burden to prove, by a preponderance of the evidence, that the property is subject to forfeiture under this Code section.
   (t)(1) All property declared to be forfeited under this Code section vests in this state at the time of commission of the conduct giving rise to forfeiture together with the proceeds of the property after that time. Any property or proceeds transferred later to any person remain subject to forfeiture and thereafter must be ordered to be forfeited unless the transferee claims and establishes in a hearing under this Code section that the transferee is a bona fide purchaser for value and the transferee's interest is exempt under subsection (e) of this Code section.

   (2) On entry of judgment for a person claiming an interest in the property that is subject to proceedings to forfeit property under this Code section, the court shall order that the property or interest in property be released or delivered promptly to that person free of liens and encumbrances, as provided under this article.

   (3) The court is authorized to order a claimant who files a frivolous claim to pay the reasonable costs relating to the disproving of the claim which were incurred by the state, including costs for investigation, prosecution, and attorney's fees.
   (u)(1) The court may, after judgment of forfeiture, make any of the following orders for disposition of the property:

      (A) Judicial sale of the property;

      (B) Retention of the property by any party having a property interest therein, as such interest is described in subsection (e) of this Code section, upon payment or approval of a plan for payment into court of the value of any forfeited interest in the property. The plan may include, in the case of a party having such a property interest who holds a lien on or security interest in the property, the sale of the property by any such party under such terms and conditions as may be prescribed by the court and the payment into court of any proceeds from such sale over and above the amount necessary to satisfy the lien or security interest; or

      (C) Destruction of any contraband, the possession of which is illegal.

   (2) The proceeds from any judicial sale or payments from a party having a property interest as described in paragraph (1) of this subsection shall be delivered to the Department of Community Health. The proceeds shall then be disbursed in accordance with the requirements of federal law.

(v) An acquittal or dismissal in a criminal proceeding does not preclude civil proceedings under this article, provided that no property shall be forfeited after an acquittal or dismissal in a criminal proceeding unless the state obtains a civil judgment for forfeiture under this article.

(w) For good cause shown, the court may stay civil forfeiture proceedings during the criminal trial resulting from a related indictment or information alleging a violation of this article.
   (x)(1) The court shall order the forfeiture of any property of a claimant or defendant up to the value of property found by the court to be subject to forfeiture under the provisions of this Code section if any of the forfeited property:

      (A) Cannot be located;

      (B) Has been transferred or conveyed to, sold to, or deposited with a third party;

      (C) Is beyond the jurisdiction of the court;

      (D) Has been substantially diminished in value while not in the actual physical custody of the receiver or governmental agency directed to maintain custody of the property; or

      (E) Has been commingled with other property that cannot be divided without difficulty.

   (2) In addition to any other remedy provided for by law, a prosecutor on behalf of the state may institute an action in any court of this state or of the United States or any of the several states against any person acting with knowledge or any person to whom notice of a lien for forfeiture of property has been provided in accordance with subsection (j) of this Code section; to whom notice of seizure has been provided in accordance with subsection (i) of this Code section; or to whom notice of a civil proceeding alleging conduct giving rise to forfeiture under this Code section has been provided, if property subject to forfeiture is conveyed, alienated, disposed of, or otherwise rendered unavailable for forfeiture after the filing of a forfeiture lien notice or notice of seizure or after the filing and notice of a civil proceeding alleging conduct giving rise to forfeiture under this Code section, as the case may be. The state may recover judgment in an amount equal to the value of the lien but not to exceed the fair market value of the property or, if there is no lien, in an amount not to exceed the fair market value of the property, together with reasonable investigative expenses and attorney's fees. If a civil proceeding is pending, the action must be heard by the court in which the civil proceeding is pending.

   (3) A prosecutor may file and prosecute in any of the courts of this state or of the United States or of any of the several states such civil actions as may be necessary to enforce any judgment rendered pursuant to this Code section.

   (4) No person claiming an interest in property subject to forfeiture under this article may commence or maintain any action against the state concerning the validity of the alleged interest other than as provided in this Code section. Except as specifically authorized by this Code section, no person claiming an interest in such property may file any counterclaim or cross-claim to any action brought pursuant to this Code section.

   (5) A civil action under this article must be commenced within five years after the last conduct giving rise to forfeiture or to the claim for relief became known or should have become known, excluding any time during which either the property or defendant is out of the state or in confinement or during which criminal proceedings relating to the same conduct are in progress.

(y) In the event the state fails to prove that the property is subject to forfeiture under this Code section, the property may still be subject to lien, levy, and other processes in order to satisfy any judgment which orders the payment of restitution based upon a conviction or judgment of Medicaid fraud.

(z) This Code section must be liberally construed to effectuate its remedial purposes.

Code 1981, § 49-4-146.3, enacted by Ga. L. 1997, p. 1596, § 3; Ga. L. 1998, p. 128, § 49; Ga. L. 1998, p. 664, § 2; Ga. L. 1999, p. 296, § 24; Ga. L. 2000, p. 1225, § 7; Ga. L. 2000, p. 1589, § 3; Ga. L. 2001, p. 362, § 36.