Category Archives: RICO claims
What You Need to Prove to Prevail in a Civil Rico Claim in Florida
RICO (Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act) refers to the state and federal laws that are used to bring criminal and civil penalties against ongoing criminal organizations. Though it is not well known, RICO claims are sometimes brought against legitimate businesses that are engaged in systematic fraud. Under Florida’s RICO statute, plaintiffs can hold… Read More »
GEICO Files New Civil RICO Claim Against Florida Company
According to reporting from Autobody News, GEICO has filed a federal civil RICO lawsuit against a Florida-based windshield repair company. The large insurance company alleges that the defendant — a Tampa area auto repair business called Shazam Auto Glass ― committed fraud by falsifying windshield repairs. In this article, our Miami RICO claims attorneys… Read More »
What to Do If Your Miami Business is Facing RICO Charges
The Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organization Act (RICO Act) is an increasingly important issue in the realm of business law. While the RICO Act is often associated in popular culture with criminal charges, your Florida business could also face a civil RICO lawsuit. If found liable for a civil violation under the RICO Act,… Read More »
Civil RICO Lawsuit Brought Against HomeAdvisor
According to reporting from PR Newswire, a class action civil RICO lawsuit has been brought against IAC/InteractiveCorp and its subsidiary company HomeAdvisor. HomeAdvisor is a web based company that helps to match homeowners with contractors and other home service companies. HomeAdvisor not only provides a directory of local companies that offer home-related services, but… Read More »
Did Spirit Airlines Violate the RICO Act? The Eleventh Circuit Court Says No
Recently, the Eleventh Circuit Court released a decision in the case of Ray v. Spirit Airlines. Lead plaintiff Bryan Ray, who was representing a group of several different similarly situated consumers, alleged that Spirit Airlines had violated the RICO Act. The Eleventh Circuit disagreed with the plaintiffs and found in favor of the airline…. Read More »
GEICO Files Civil RICO Lawsuit Against Five Florida Companies
The Insurance Journal recently reported that GEICO, one of the nation’s largest insurance companies, has filed a civil RICO lawsuit against five Florida businesses along with six specific individuals. The lawsuit, which was filed in Tampa Bay, alleges that the defendants were engaged in an insurance fraud scheme that amounted to a civil RICO… Read More »
RICO Claims: The Enterprise Element
The term ‘racketeering’ is most often associated with criminal operations. However, increasingly, wholly legitimate Florida businesses are facing civil RICO claims. The language of the RICO (Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organization) Act is expansive. These claims have many complicated factors, including the ‘enterprise element’. If you have any questions about RICO’s enterprise element, or… Read More »
Florida Passes Enhancements to the RICO Act
Recently, Governor Rick Scott signed House Bill 549 into law, which aims to enhance Florida’s Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organization (RICO) law. The new regulations are set to take effect on July 1st, 2016. All Florida business owners should stay updated on Florida’s RICO statutes. While many associate RICO claims with criminal activity, ‘legitimate’… Read More »
Florida Lawsuit Accuses Commercial Landlord of RICO Violations
The Chattanoogan.com recently posted a story about a lawsuit filed at the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida. The legal claim was filed against CBL & Associates, a large real estate investment firm. According to the complaint, there are allegations that CBL has been consistently overcharging its tenants for electricity. Notably,… Read More »
Florida Corporation Files Multi-Count RICO Lawsuit
A Florida corporation’s recently-filed lawsuit against one of its competitors highlights the far-ranging implications of the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO). Congress initially implemented RICO in the early 1970s to help police and law enforcement professionals combat the growing influence of organized crime. Prior to RICO, prosecutors were forced to use ordinary… Read More »