Opinion ID: 2719807
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: analysis

Text: The interpretative issue for us is: What did the legislature intend the term “enterprise,” as used in ORICO, to encompass? We resolve that issue through our usual method of statutory interpretation. We begin with the text and context of the statute, which are the best indications of the legislature’s intent. If appropriate, we also consider the statute’s legislative history. Finally, if the statute’s meaning remains unclear, we may resort to general maxims of statutory construction. See State v. Gaines, 346 Or 160, 171-73, 206 P3d 1042 (2009) (explaining methodology). 14 State v. Walker A. Text and Context ORS 166.720(3) provides: “It is unlawful for any person employed by, or associated with, any enterprise to conduct or participate, directly or indirectly, in such enterprise through a pattern of racketeering activity or the collection of an unlawful debt.” The legislature did not define enterprise, but, in ORS 166.715(2), it did give an illustrative list of what the term includes: “ ‘Enterprise’ includes any individual, sole proprietorship, partnership, corporation, business trust or other profit or nonprofit legal entity, and includes any union, association or group of individuals associated in fact although not a legal entity, and both illicit and licit enterprises and governmental and non-governmental entities.”3 Because the term “enterprise” is not otherwise defined, we also consider its ordinary meaning. See generally State v. Kurtz, 350 Or 65, 72, 249 P3d 1271 (2011) (fact that statute listed types of persons “include[d]” within “categorical term” at issue indicated that term “can embrace persons beyond those that the statute expressly lists”; court therefore considered ordinary meaning of term). In 1981, when ORICO was enacted, the ordinary meaning of the term “enterprise” was “1 a : a plan or design for a venture or undertaking b : VENTURE, UNDERTAKING, PROJECT; esp : an undertaking that is difficult, complicated or has a strong element of risk   c : a unit of economic orga-