Opinion ID: 530002
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Introduction to RICO

Text: 14 The major purpose behind RICO is to curb the infiltration of legitimate business organizations by racketeers. United States v. Turkette, 452 U.S. 576, 591, 101 S.Ct. 2524, 2532-33, 69 L.Ed.2d 246 (1981). Although the initial aim may have been to thwart organized crime, RICO also imposes civil liability on other types of organizations. See Bennett v. Berg, 685 F.2d 1053, 1063 (8th Cir.1982) (determining that RICO suits are not limited to contexts in which ties to organized crime are alleged), rev'd in part on other grounds, 710 F.2d 1361 (8th Cir.) (en banc), cert. denied, 464 U.S. 1008, 104 S.Ct. 527, 78 L.Ed.2d 710 (1983). Any person injured in his business or property by reason of a violation of section 1962    shall recover threefold the damages he sustains and the cost of the suit, including a reasonable attorney's fee. 18 U.S.C. Sec. 1964(c) (1982). It shall be unlawful for any person who has received any income    from a pattern of racketeering activity    to use or invest, directly or indirectly, any part of such income, or the proceeds of such income,    in [the]    operation of any enterprise which is engaged in, or the activities of which affect, interstate or foreign commerce. 18 U.S.C. Sec. 1962(a) (1982). Subsection (c) makes it unlawful for any person    associated with an enterprise engaged in, or the activities of which affect, interstate or foreign commerce, to    participate, directly or indirectly, in    such enterprise's affairs through a pattern of racketeering activity   . 18 U.S.C. Sec. 1962(c) (1982). It is also unlawful for any person to conspire to violate    subsection (a), (b), or (c) of [section 1962]. 18 U.S.C. Sec. 1962(d) (1982) (amended by Pub.L. 100-690, Title VII Sec. 7033, 102 Stat. 4398 (1988)). A pattern of racketeering activity is defined as at least two acts of racketeering activity, one of which occurred after the effective date of this chapter and the last of which occurred within ten years   . 18 U.S.C. Sec. 1961(5) (1982). Racketeering activity includes acts indictable under specified federal statutes. 18 U.S.C. Sec. 1961(1)(B) (1982 & Supp. V 1987). Section 1961(4) states that an  'enterprise' includes any individual, partnership, corporation, association, or other legal entity, and any union or group of individuals associated in fact although not a legal entity. 18 U.S.C. Sec. 1961(4) (1982). Although the jury grounded liability on both subsections (a) and (c) of section 1962, we first analyze this case under section 1962(c) because we find that subsection more applicable to the facts of the case. Thus, a plaintiff in establishing a RICO case under section 1962(c) must demonstrate (1) conduct (2) of an enterprise (3) through a pattern (4) of racketeering activity. Sedima, S.P.R.L. v. Imrex Co., 473 U.S. 479, 496, 105 S.Ct. 3275, 87 L.Ed.2d 346 (1985) (footnote omitted).