Kenneth Jouppi appeals to the Supreme Court to block the seizure of his $95,000 airplane over a six-pack of beer.

The Supreme Court agreed Monday to hear an appeal from Kenneth Jouppi, an Alaskan bush pilot who argues that state authorities illegally seized his $95,000 Cessna. The seizure occurred after authorities discovered a passenger had brought a six-pack of beer on a flight to Beaver, a remote village where alcohol is prohibited. Jouppi contends that the forfeiture violates the Eighth Amendment’s "Excessive Fines Clause," arguing that losing an entire airplane for a minor misdemeanor is disproportionate to the gravity of the offense. While the Alaska Supreme Court previously ruled in favor of the state, Jouppi seeks a national precedent to limit government overreach in asset forfeiture. The state maintains that the forfeiture is justified because airplanes are often the only way to transport goods into remote areas. The administration of the Alaska legal system argues that the fine is not grossly disproportional to the crime. The Supreme Court is expected to hear oral arguments later this year and issue a decision by next summer.

Sources