St. John Life Center v. State of Alabama

Summary

The court affirmed forfeiture of $446,897.19 seized from an illegal electronic-gambling operation. It held that the funds were money used as bets or stakes under Alabama law and that their forfeiture was remedial rather than punitive, so the Excessive Fines Clause did not apply. The court also declined to consider the claimants' unpreserved argument that the funds were gambling proceeds rather than bets or stakes.