High Court Rules RICO Plaintiffs Need Not Rely on Misrepresentations

The U.S. Supreme Court has made it easier for some plaintiffs to prove their cases in civil suits brought under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act.

The court ruled in a unanimous decision (PDF posted by SCOTUSblog) that plaintiffs in a RICO suit claiming mail fraud do not have to prove they relied on a defendant’s misrepresentations.

The plaintiffs in the case claimed a competitor had made false statements to Cook County, Ill., which includes Chicago, to enable it to obtain an advantage in obtaining liens on properties with unpaid taxes, the Associated Press reports.

The case is Bridge v. Phoenix Bond & Indemnity Co..