Summary
Practical guide to filing civil RICO claims in federal court.
Overview
The Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (18 U.S.C. §§ 1961-1968) provides civil remedies. This playbook focuses on filing a civil RICO claim.
Step 1: Establish Standing
- Injury to business or property
- Caused by a RICO violation
- Concrete and not speculative
Step 2: Identify RICO Elements
- Enterprise: Legal entity or association-in-fact
- Pattern: At least two predicate acts within 10 years
- Predicate Acts: From § 1961(1) list
- Nexus: Connected to the enterprise
Step 3: Draft the Complaint
- Plead with particularity under Rule 9(b)
- Identify each predicate act specifically
- Allege pattern with continuity and relationship
Step 4: Treble Damages
- 3x actual damages
- Attorney fees recoverable
- Pre-judgment interest available
Common Pitfalls
- Failing to plead predicates with particularity
- Conflating enterprise with defendant
- Not establishing a pattern
