October Term 2000 · Docket 00-549
Does RICO liability require an employee to act within their job scope?
The dispute centers on whether a RICO enterprise employee commits a violation when acting outside their assigned duties.
Verified source milestones
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
The arguments, in order
This case may have been argued more than once. Each entry below uses that session's official transcript. Later arguments do not erase earlier ones.
Argument 1 ·
What happened at the argument
Mr. Edlin argued the scope test conflicts with the statute's plain language.
Mr. Schlick argued the text covers any person employed by the enterprise.
Mr. Fleming argued applying the statute to ordinary business is absurd.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 35-35 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 35-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 43-35 — Transcript, file page 19, lines 43-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-47 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-13 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 5-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 42, lines 3-58 — Transcript, file page 42, lines 3-58
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
This case tests the reach of federal racketeering law against corporate employees.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 35-35 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 35-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 43-35 — Transcript, file page 19, lines 43-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-47 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-47
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on April 18, 2001.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-13 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 5-13
What each side wants
the side that brought the case seeks reversal of the lower court decision.
the opposing side seeks to affirm the lower court decision.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 35-35 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 35-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 43-35 — Transcript, file page 19, lines 43-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-47 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-47
What each side says
the side that brought the case argues the statute covers all employees regardless of job scope.
the opposing side argues the statute only covers acts within the employee's job scope.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 35-35 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 35-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 43-35 — Transcript, file page 19, lines 43-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-47 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-47
What the justices asked
Chief Justice Rehnquist asked the side that brought the case to clarify his position.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 42, lines 3-58 — Transcript, file page 42, lines 3-58
Why it matters
The outcome defines the boundary of corporate criminal liability for employee conduct.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 35-35 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 35-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 43-35 — Transcript, file page 19, lines 43-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-47 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-47
What happens next
This article currently covers the argument record. Use the official docket link for later case activity.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-13 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 5-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 42, lines 3-58 — Transcript, file page 42, lines 3-58
Official Court provenance
Official docket and case history · Official Supreme Court oral-argument detail page
Title and summary sources
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 35-35 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 35-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 43-35 — Transcript, file page 19, lines 43-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-47 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 35-35 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 35-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 43-35 — Transcript, file page 19, lines 43-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-47 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-47
Revision history
- Revision 1 · Official Transcript ·
Correction: Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.
- Revision 2 · Official Transcript ·
Correction: Migrated to the dated official Court activity contract without model use.