Opinion ID: 770309
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Antitrust and RICO Standing

Text: 16 The Trustees argue that the district court improperly dismissed their federal claims for lack of standing. We disagree. Standing to sue under RICO and the federal antitrust laws requires some direct relation between the injury asserted and the injurious conduct alleged. Holmes v. Securities Investor Protection Corp., 503 U.S. 258, 268 (1992) (RICO); see Associated Gen. Contractors, Inc. v. Carpenters, 459 U.S. 519, 540-45 (1983) (antitrust). The Trustees allege an indirect injury -- that the defendants' tobacco products cause illnesses in plan beneficiaries who smoke, and the plans must pay the costs of treating those illnesses. We agree with the five other circuits that have denied antitrust and RICO standing to ERISA plans who seek to recover for this type of indirect injury. See Texas Carpenters Health Benefit Fund v. Philip Morris Inc., 199 F.3d 788, 789-90 (5th Cir. 1999); International Bhd. of Teamsters, Local 734 Health & Welfare Trust Fund v. Philip Morris Inc., 196 F.3d 818, 823-25 (7th Cir. 1999); Laborers Local 17 Health & Benefit Fund v. Philip Morris, Inc., 191 F.3d 229, 237 (2d Cir. 1999), cert. denied, 120 S. Ct. 799 (2000); Oregon Laborers-Employers v. Philip Morris, Inc., 185 F.3d 957, 964 (9th Cir. 1999); Steamfitters Local Union No. 420 Welfare Fund v. Philip Morris, Inc., 171 F.3d 912, 921, 934 (3d Cir. 1999). The Trustees argue that defendants' unlawful intent alters the analysis. However, [t]he availability of [an antitrust] remedy . . . is not a question of the specific intent of the conspirators. Associated Gen. Contractors, 459 U.S. at 537.