Some RICO complaints have entertainment value
For some reason pro se litigants (persons representing themselves) are attracted to RICO. My informal survey indicates that dozens of frivilous RICO claims are filed in state and federal courts each year. They almost always result in dismissal, with prejudice, at the very early stages of the lawsuit – mostly for failure to state a claim for which relief can be granted. As noted in my previous posts, pleading and proving a RICO case is a daunting task, but this fact does not seem to dissuade some people with an ax to grind. A decision entered in the United States District Court for the District of Nevada on July 5, 2007 provides an entertaining example of a person with a problem – you decide what his problem is. The District Court’s decision in Charles Caston, et al. v. U.S. President George BUSH, Jr., et al. provides the following recitation of the relief Mr. Caston sought in his RICO lawsuit.
Charles Caston, acting pro se, has brought suit on his own behalf and on the behalf of Casinos Las Vegas, Reno. Plaintiff is suing U.S. President George Bush, Jr. [sic], Governor Gibbons, George Bush, Nancy Poloski [sic], California Governor Arnold Swartznagger [sic], Texas Governor Rick Perry, New York Governor George Pataki [sic], Vice President Dick Chaney, and Mexico's President Andres Manuel Lopex Obrador [sic] for violating his constitutional rights. Plaintiff asks the court to seize 84 Lumber, Office Depot, the Pentagon, and the White House. Plaintiff also requests the court to stop the war in Iraq and release the prisoners in Guantanamo Bay and Afghanistan.
The Court goes on to note:
Plaintiff claims that the Pentagon and the White House need to be seized because they are involved in R.I.C.O. violations and overcharging plaintiff everything he buys. Plaintiff also accuses an unspecified defendant of controlling the slot machines, breaking and entering his storage unit, taking money out of his bank account, and black mailing American Indians. Further, plaintiff claims that urine was poured on him while he slept, he is being stalked by U.S. Military personnel, and that his cousin was killed by the U.S. Military. Finally, plaintiff states that he is being denied a home, a family, a drivers license, and sex with women. Given the delusional allegations of plaintiff's Complaint, the legal and factual deficiencies cannot be cured by amendment.
Not surprisingly, the Court dismissed Mr. Caston’s complaint with prejudice. In any event, thanks, Mr. Caston, for the entertainment value of your RICO claims.
