Convicted user to get money back

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Police must return more than $34,000 to a convicted drug user after the Missouri Supreme Court refused to hear an appeal of a lawsuit.

Attorney George A. Barton said the Supreme Court's decision last week also paves the way for class-action lawsuits that have been filed in several Missouri counties, including Jackson, Pettis and Greene.

The Supreme Court's decision not to hear the appeal means a Missouri Court of Appeals decision last year stands.

The appeals court had upheld a lower court ruling that the Kansas City Police Department must repay money it had seized from Vincent Karpierz in a 1998 drug raid.

The courts had found police illegally transferred the money seized from Karpierz to federal authorities, then got a large portion of the money back.

Under a state law meant to prevent illegal searches and seizures, the money should have gone to public education.

The appeals court ruled the department must pay back the money with interest.

Kansas City Police Department attorney Dale Close did not immediately return phone calls Thursday from The Associated Press seeking comment.