Document: 533 U.S. 158121 S.Ct. 2087150 L.Ed.2d 198 NOTICE: This opinion is subject to formal revision before publication in the preliminary print of United States Reports. Readers are requested notify Reporter Decisions, Supreme Court States, Washington, D. C. 20543, any typographical or other errors, order that corrections may be made goes press.CEDRIC KUSHNER PROMOTIONS, LTD., PETITIONERv.DON KING et al.SUPREME COURT OF THE UNITED STATES No. 00-549. Argued April 18, 2001Decided June 11, 2001 Syllabus Petitioner, a corporate promoter boxing matches, sued Don King, president and sole shareholder rival corporation, alleging King had conducted his corporation's affairs violation Racketeer Influenced Corrupt Organizations Act, which makes it "unlawful for person employed by associated with enterprise ... conduct participate such enterprise's through pattern racketeering activity," 18 U.S.C. 1962(c). The District Court, citing Circuit precedent, dismissed complaint. In affirming, Second expressed its view 1962(c) applies only where plaintiff shows existence two separate entities, "person" distinct "enterprise," improperly conducts. this instance, court noted, was undisputed an employee corporation also acting within scope authority. Under court's analysis, legal sense, part not "person," from who allegedly "enterprise's affairs." Held: circumstances case, requires no more than distinction between "enterprise" (namely, incorporation); hence, provision when unlawfully conducts he owner-whether those scope, beyond does quarrel basic principle establish liability under one must allege prove entities: (1) "person"; (2) simply same referred different name. Nonetheless, disagrees appellate application "distinctness" present circumstances, employee, authority, RICO-forbidden way. owner/employee, natural person, itself, legally entity rights responsibilities due status. can find nothing RICO "separateness" that. Linguistically speaking, illegal acts comes 1962(c)'s terms forbidding particularly explicitly defines include "any individual capable holding beneficial interest property," "corporation," 1961(3), (4). And, linguistically "persons," even owner. Incorporation's purpose create individuals created own it, whom employs. See, e.g., v. Bestfoods, 524 51, 61-62. precedent on relied involved significantly here at issue. Further, apply these consistent statute's purposes protecting both legitimate would use unlawful victimize Turkette, 452 576, 591, public (whether illegitimate) as "vehicle" activity committed, National Organization Women, Inc. Scheidler, 510 249, 259. Conversely, critical distinction-between employees without authority-would immunize many has said directly aims, high-ranking illegitimate criminal enterprise, who, seeking further purposes, act their cf. supra, 581. Finally, history favors alternative interpretation. Court's rule less lower following principles cited King: directors, officers, agents; should liable employees' Congress so intends; (3) antitrust law's intracorporate conspiracy doctrine. Pp. 2-8. 219 F.3d 115, reversed remanded. ON WRIT CERTIORARI TO APPEALS FOR SECOND CIRCUIT Breyer, J., delivered unanimous Court. Opinion Justice Breyer 1 1961 seq., affairs" commission statutorily defined crimes-which calls "a activity." language suggests, courts have held, fore- sees "enterprise." 2 case focuses upon closely held corporation. claims forbidden "pattern," though conceded that, doing so, acted authority employee. there "enterprise"? Assuming, we given posture allegations complaint true, conclude applies. 3 Cedric Kushner Promotions, Ltd., promotes matches. Petitioner Productions, claiming boxing-related Productions i.e., alleged least instances fraud predicate crimes. Appeals Civ. 98-6859, 1999 WL 771366, *3-4 (SDNY, Sept. 28, 1999). And affirmed dismissal. 115 (CA2 2000) (per curiam). view, Id., 116. "it employee" "acting authority." 117. Appeals' of, from, There thus did apply. Ibid. 4 Other Circuits, applying roughly similar reached contrary conclusion. Brannon Boatmen's First Nat. Bank Okla., 153 1144, 1148, n. (CA10 1998); Richmond Nationwide Cassel L. P., 52 640, 647 (CA7 1995); Jaguar Cars, Royal Oaks Motor Car Co., 46 258, 265, 269 (CA3 Sever Alaska Pulp Corp., 978 F.2d 1529, 1534 (CA9 1992). We granted certiorari resolve conflict. now agree Circuits hold Circuit's interpretation erroneous. 5 do language, read ordinary English, suggests principle. Act says "person[s]" "employed with" English speaks employing, being by, associating others, oneself. See Webster's Third New International Dictionary 132 (1993) (defining "associate"); id., 743 "employ"). addition, Act's Whether seeks prevent victimizing, say, small business, S. Rep. 91-617, p. 77 (1969), using 259 (1994), victim, tool, same. 6 Acting Solicitor General reads "to require some distinctness defendant enterprise." Brief Amicus Curiae 11. she requirement "legally sound workable." her assessment, light fact 12 Courts interpreted statute embodying creating discernible mischief administration RICO. St. Paul Mercury Ins. Co. Williamson, 224 425, 445 (CA5 2000); Goldin Industries, Inc., 1268, 1270 (CA11) (en banc), cert. denied, 531 1102 (2000); Begala PNC Bank, 214 776, 781 (CA6 2000), __ (2001); Doyle Hasbro, 103 186, 190 (CA1 1996); Richmond, 646-647; Gasoline Sales, Aero Oil 39 70, 72-73 1994); Confederate Memorial Assn., Hines, 995 295, 299-300 (CADC 1993); Board Cty. Comm'rs, San Juan Liberty Group, 965 879, 885 (CA10), 506 918 (1992); River City Markets, Fleming Foods West, 960 1458, 1461 1992); Busby Crown Supply, 896 833, 840 (CA4 1990); Atlas Pile Driving DiCon Financial 886 986, (CA8 1989); Bennett Trust York, 770 308, 315, 1985), 474 1058 (1986); see Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Ltd. Samsung Electronics 204 1368, 1383, 7 (CA Fed. (approving dicta), (2001). Indeed, previously "depends showing defendants participated 'enterprise's affairs,' just Reves Ernst & Young, 507 170, 185 (1993). While accepting principle, nonetheless disagree circumstances-circumstances authority," F.3d, 117, Cf. McCullough Suter, 757 142, 144 1985) (finding either practical separateness sufficient 1962(c)). 8 forbids "corporation." After all, incorporation's entity, rights, obligations, powers, privileges 61-62 (1998); Burnet Clark, 287 410, 415 (1932); W. Fletcher, Cyclopedia Law Private Corporations 7, 14 (rev. ed. 9 note earlier decision. But quite presented here. concerns claim It speak "person by" concerned together all agents, were Riverwoods Chappaqua Corp. Marine Midland N. A., 30 339, 344 (1994) (affirming dismissal complaint). "associated latter oddly constructed entity. compared instant case. Anatian Coutts (Switzerland) 193 85, 89 (1999) bank "enterprise"), 528 1188 Discon, NYNEX 93 1055, 1064 (1996) (involving subsidiaries "persons" subsidiaries, taken parent, vacated grounds, 525 128 Bennett, (same Anatian). consider merits cases, 10 them. protects 591 (1981), committed," U.S., A "pattern . 1962(c), uses whether is, not, 11 outside authority-is inconsistent statutory purpose. Reves, 184 (stating " 'operated,' meaning, "not upper management but rung participants direction management" (emphasis added)). aims-e.g., 581 (Congress "did indicate consisting group covered if exclusively criminal"). found That refers frequently importance undermining organized crime's influence businesses need protect run "organization[s] manner detrimental interest." 82. purpose, said, invites endorse, namely, incorporation) 13 reply, argues 30, intends, Respondents 20-21, Sherman limiting 15 excluding "from combinations conspiracies activities single firm," Copperweld Independence Tube 467 752, 769-770, (1984). however, principles. deny employees; identical. assert respondeat superior make matter congressional intent us. 73 (holding cannot "vicariously liable" violations committed vice president). Neither doctrine; doctrine turns specific objectives. 770-771. Rather, entities satisfied; us For reasons, judgment reversed, remanded proceedings opinion. ordered.

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