&gt; Many, many forfeiture cases demonstrate that the reasonable presumption is not actually made by our system. For example many look like, &quot;Person tries to board a plane. TSA finds money on person, seizes it, sues the money with no case made against the person.&quot;<p>The structure of asset forfeiture laws <i>requires</i> that the action be formally against the property. They also require both specific notice of people with specified relations to the property which indicate probable ownership, and public notice, so that any persons with ownership interests in the property can intervene in the action and have the opportunity to contest the governments claims against the property.