6th Circuit Allows RICO Decision Against Employer to Stand

The Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals permitted its favorable decision for employees and against an employer, its workers' compensation insurance carrier and its examining physician to stand. The Court, on January 5, 2009, denied a Rehearing and a Rehearing En Banc request made by the defendant who were held to be in violation of the Racketeer Influence and Corrupt Organization Act (RICO).

The Court held that 13 original predicated acts constituted a pattern of racketeering activity. The workers were not required to plead or prove reliance on the misrepresentations. The Circuit Court also ruled that the Michigan workers' compensation act did not reverse preempt RICO under the McCarran-Ferguson Act.

Brown v Cassens Transport Co. 546 F.3d 347 (6th Cir. 2009).