Supreme Court of Minnesota
Megan Ashley Olson v. One 1999 Lexus Mn License Plate No. 851ldv Vin: Jt6hf10u6x0079461
March 13, 2019924 N.W.2d 594
Summary
The court held that Minnesota's DWI vehicle-forfeiture statute is facially constitutional because some cases may be resolved promptly enough to satisfy due process. Applying the Mathews balancing framework, the court upheld the statute as applied to Megan Olson but held that the 18-month delay violated Helen Olson's due process rights because she had a substantial ownership interest and no reliable prehearing assessment of her innocent-owner defense. The court affirmed in part, reversed in part, and ordered the vehicle returned to Helen without storage costs.