Opinion ID: 3010882
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Annulli's Evidentiary Burden at

Text: Summary Judgment Annulli's civil RICO claims arise under 18 U.S.C. SS 1962(c) and (d). Section 1962(c) provides that it is unlawful for any person employed by or associated with any enterprise engaged in, or the activities of which affect, interstate or foreign commerce, to conduct or participate, directly or indirectly, in the conduct of such enterprise's affairs through a pattern of racketeering activity. Under S 1962(d), it is unlawful for any person to conspire to violate any of the provisions of subsection (c). Therefore, to prove a conspiracy claim under S 1962(d), Annulli must first establish his S 1962(c) claim. To recover under S 1962(c), a plaintiff must prove the following four elements: (1) the existence of an enterprise affecting interstate commerce; (2) that the defendant was employed by or associated with the enterprise; (3) that the defendant participated, either directly or indirectly, in the conduct or the affairs of the enterprise; and (4) that the defendant participated through a pattern of racketeering activity that included at least two racketeering acts. See Sedima, S.P.R.L. v. Imrex Co., 473 U.S. 479, 496 (1985); Shearin v. E.F. Hutton Group, Inc., 885 F.2d 1162, 1165 (3d Cir. 1989). At the summary judgment stage of proceedings, if the movant--in this case the Defendants--can point to the absence of any factual support for one of these essential elements, then the non-movant, bearing the burden of persuasion at trial, must introduce specific facts showing a need for trial, pursuant to FED. R. CIV. P. 56(e). See Celotex, 477 U.S. at 322-24. If the non-moving party fails to go beyond conclusory allegations in its pleadings and to produce specific facts indicating that there is a genuine issue for trial, summary judgment will be granted in favor of the moving party. See id. at 323-24; Pastore v. Bell Telephone Co. of Pa., 24 F.3d 508, 512 (3d Cir. 1994). As noted above, we construe the record in the light most favorable to the non-moving party. See supra note 3.