RICO Case Statements
Many federal district courts have issued standing orders requiring a “RICO Case Statement” be filed at, or shortly after, the time a complaint alleging civil RICO claims is filed. These case statements are intended to meet the “reasonable inquiry” standard required by Fed.R.Civ.P. 11. The court in the Eastern District of Tennessee reminded an errant plaintiff of this requirement in a decision issued on May 21, 2007. The court in Anderson v. Thompson, 2007 WL 1490596 (May 21, 2007) (E.D.Tenn.) provided the requirements of its RICO Case Statement in a decision issued in response to a “curious proposed order” that was delivered by plaintiff’s counsel to the Court's chambers in contravention of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure and applicable local rules. One must wonder “What were they thinking?” In any event, check out the decision for the RICO Case Statement required in the Eastern District of Tennessee, which is typical of such standing orders.
