United States of America v. David Lyle Lefler

This disposition is not appropriate for publication and is not precedent*
except as provided by 9th Cir. R. 36-3.
The panel unanimously concludes this case is suitable for decision**
without oral argument. See Fed. R. App. P. 34(a)(2).
NOT FOR PUBLICATION
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE NINTH CIRCUIT
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
Plaintiff - Appellee,
v.
DAVID LYLE LEFLER,
Defendant - Appellant.
No. 09-50634
D.C. No. 3:05-cr-02313-LAB-1
MEMORANDUM*
Appeal from the United States District Court
for the Southern District of California
Larry A. Burns, District Judge, Presiding
Submitted December 14, 2010**
Before: GOODWIN, WALLACE, and THOMAS, Circuit Judges
David Lyle Lefler, a federal prisoner, appeals pro se a “Notice of Document
Discrepancies” order in which the district court rejected his motion for return of
property under Fed. R. Crim. P. 41(g). We review de novo a district court’s
FILED
DEC 27 2010
MOLLY C. DWYER, CLERK
U .S. C OU R T OF APPE ALS

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decision to deny a Rule 41(g) motion. United States v. Ritchie, 342 F.3d 903, 906
(9th Cir. 2003). We reverse and remand.
Lefler pleaded guilty to and was sentenced for a drug trafficking crime
during which his 1995 Southwind Recreational Vehicle (the “motor home”) was
used to transport narcotics from Mexico. Lefler sought to file in the district court
four separate Rule 41(g) motions to reclaim his motor home. Instead of filing
them, the district court rejected each motion in a “Notice of Document
Discrepancies” due to violations of the Southern District of California Local Rules.
Lefler appealed the fourth order.
The district court’s fourth order on November 9, 2009 was a final, and thus
reviewable, decision under 28 U.S.C. § 1291. By declaring “case closed,” the
district court disposed of Lefler’s claim entirely and evidenced an intent of finality.
See Nat’l Distribution Agency v. Nationwide Mut. Ins. Co., 117 F.3d 432, 433 (9th
Cir. 1997). The order indicated that despite compliance with its third order —
Lefler’s fourth motion included a memorandum of points and authorities — the
district court would no longer entertain his case.
Moreover, if a Rule 41(g) motion “is filed when no criminal proceeding is
pending, the motion is treated as a civil complaint . . . .” Ritchie, 342 F.3d at 906;
see also Kardoh v. United States, 572 F.3d 697, 702 (9th Cir. 2009) (“Because

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there were no criminal proceedings pending, the motion should have been treated
as a civil complaint governed by the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.”). No
criminal proceeding was pending when Lefler submitted his Rule 41(g) motions.
The district court treated them as motions, not as civil complaints, and thus erred.
REVERSED AND REMANDED.

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