Opinion ID: 785133
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: rico claims against yokohama tire corporation

Text: 10 We review de novo the district court's dismissal of Miller's RICO claims for failure to state a claim pursuant to Rule 12(b)(6). See Cervantes v. United States, 330 F.3d 1186, 1187 (9th Cir.2003). A complaint should not be dismissed, however, unless it appears beyond doubt that the plaintiff can prove no set of facts in support of the claim that would entitle the plaintiff to relief. No. 84 Employer-Teamster Joint Council v. Am. W. Holding Corp., 320 F.3d 920, 931(9th Cir.2003). 11 Miller names Yokohama as a defendant in his RICO action. Miller does not claim that Yokohama is directly liable, but rather premises Yokohama's liability on a respondeat superior theory. The threshold issue, therefore, is whether Yokohama can be vicariously liable for its employees' RICO violations. As a matter of established Ninth Circuit law, it cannot. In Brady v. Dairy Fresh Products Co., 974 F.2d 1149(9th Cir.1992), we held that an employer that is benefited [sic] by its employee or agent's violations of section 1962(c) may be held liable under the doctrines of respondeat superior and agency when the employer is distinct from the enterprise.  Id. at 1154 (emphasis added). Vicarious liability is inappropriate when the [employer] is the RICO enterprise. Id. Miller names Yokohama as both the employer and the RICO enterprise. Because Yokohama cannot be held liable under the doctrine of respondeat superior, the district court's dismissal as to Yokohama was proper.