United States v. The M/Y Amadea, a Motor Yacht Bearing International Maritime Organization No. 1012531, Including All Fixtures, Fittings, Manuals, Stocks, Stores, Inventories, and Each Lifeboat, Tender, and Other Appu

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK UNITED STATES, Plaintiff, v. 23-CV-9304 (DEH) THE M/Y AMADEA, A MOTOR YACHT BEARING INTERNATIONAL MARITIME ORDER ORGANIZATION NO. 1012531, Defendant.

DALE E. HO, United States District Judge: This is a civil forfeiture action brought pursuant to 18 U.S.C. §§ 981 and 983 and the Supplemental Rules for Admiralty or Maritime Claims and Asset Forfeiture Actions.

Specifically, the Government seeks forfeiture of the M/Y Amadea, International Maritime Organization (“IMO”) No. 1012531, including all fixtures, fittings, manuals, stocks, stores, inventories, and each lifeboat, tender, and other appurtenance thereto (the “Amadea”). On January 26, 2024, Claimants Eduard Yurievich Khudainatov and Millemarin Investments Ltd. filed a motion to dismiss the Government’s Complaint. See ECF No. 25. On February 16, 2024, the Government filed a First Amended Complaint. See ECF No. 37.

On February 9, 2024, the Government filed a motion for an interlocutory sale of the Amadea, the property at issue in this forfeiture action. See ECF No. 32. In substance, the Government argues that the maintenance costs of the Amadea are excessive and notes that the Claimants—Eduard Yurievich Khudainatov and Millemarin Investments Ltd.—have themselves previously attempted to sell the Amadea. See ECF No. 33.

On February 16, 2024, Claimants filed a letter motion seeking an expedited discovery schedule for documents relevant to the interlocutory sale motion and an adjustment of the briefing schedule to allow Claimants to incorporate this discovery into their opposition. See ECF No. 38. Claimants argue that the seizure of the Amadea in Fiji may have violated the Fourth Amendment, because the affidavit of an FBI agent filed in support of the initial seizure may contain false or misleading statements regarding the ownership of the Amadea. Claimants seek an unredacted copy of the affidavit and any documents used by the agent to prepare the affidavit.

On February 19, 2024, the Government filed a letter in opposition to the motion for expedited discovery. See ECF No. 39.

It is hereby ORDERED that Claimants’ request for expedited discovery is DENIED.

Claimants’ request is denied because the basis of their argument—that the initial seizure of the property may have violated the Fourth Amendment and that Claimants should be allowed to gather evidence to develop this argument—fails because “the Fourth Amendment (and, in particular, its warrant requirement) does not apply extraterritorially . . . at least where the ‘[the defendant] was a citizen and resident of [of another country] with no voluntary attachment to the United States.’” United States v. Hasbajrami, 945 F.3d 641, 662 (2d Cir. 2019) (quoting United States v. Verdugo-Urquidez, 494 U.S. 259, 274-75 (1990)). Claimants’ letter or presentation at oral argument present no reason to conclude that the Fourth Amendment would apply to the Amadea’s seizure in Fiji. Marine Midland Bank, N.A. v. United States, 11 F.3d 1119 (2d Cir. 1993), upon which Claimants rely, does not compel a different result because there, the seized interbank account was located in New York City. See id. at 1121.

It is further ORDERED that the motion to dismiss the Complaint is DENIED as moot in light of the Amended Complaint filed on February 16, 2024. See ECF No. 37.

The Clerk of Court is respectfully directed to close the motions at ECF Nos. 25 and 38.

SO ORDERED.

Dated: February 22, 2024 New York, New York DALE E. HO United States District Judge