Sec. 26. (a) Whenever the court orders the return of merchandise, the appropriate law enforcement agency shall immediately return the merchandise to the place of seizure. The appropriate law enforcement agency and the appropriate law enforcement agency's bondsmen are liable for any damage to the merchandise while in the custody of the appropriate law enforcement agency if the damage was due to negligence, willfulness, or carelessness upon the part of the appropriate law enforcement agency or the appropriate law enforcement agency's agents.
(b) No subsequent proceeding in the cause or new trial may in any way involve any returned merchandise.