October Term 2007 · Docket 07-210
Must a RICO fraud plaintiff rely on the misrepresentation?
the sides that brought the case seek damages for liens they claim rivals won through fraud. the opposing sides argue the law requires direct reliance.
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. Becker argued both questions should be answered yes.
He stated the plaintiff must rely on the misrepresentation.
Mr. Debruin claimed the sides that brought the case submitted false affidavits.
He stated they filled the auction room with related entities.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 19-19 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 19-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 23-31 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 23-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 41-45 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 41-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 11-5 — Transcript, file page 19, lines 11-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-9 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 34, lines 47-35 — Transcript, file page 34, lines 47-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-31 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 41-43 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 41-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 41-47 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 41-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 13-19 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 13-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 7-33 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 7-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 25-37 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 25-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 9-13 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 9-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 21-23 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 21-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 5-13 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 5-13
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
This case tests the scope of civil RICO fraud claims. the sides that brought the case want compensation for lost bids. the opposing sides want to limit liability to direct victims.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 11-5 — Transcript, file page 19, lines 11-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-9 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 34, lines 47-35 — Transcript, file page 34, lines 47-35
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on April 14, 2008.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-17
What each side wants
the sides that brought the case want a damages award for lost auction bids.
the opposing sides want dismissal of the fraud claim.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 11-5 — Transcript, file page 19, lines 11-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-9 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 34, lines 47-35 — Transcript, file page 34, lines 47-35
What each side says
the sides that brought the case argue RICO covers injuries proximately caused by fraud.
the opposing sides argue the statute requires direct reliance on lies.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 11-5 — Transcript, file page 19, lines 11-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-9 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 34, lines 47-35 — Transcript, file page 34, lines 47-35
What the justices asked
Justice Souter asked if the text supports a proximate cause standard.
Justice Kennedy asked if the tort fails without the fraud violation.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 19-19 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 19-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 23-31 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 23-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 41-45 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 41-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-31 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 41-43 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 41-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 41-47 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 41-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 13-19 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 13-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 7-33 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 7-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 25-37 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 25-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 9-13 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 9-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 21-23 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 21-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 5-13 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 5-13
Why it matters
The outcome defines who can sue for fraud under RICO. It sets the boundary for civil liability in auction disputes. It clarifies the link between criminal acts and civil damages.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 11-5 — Transcript, file page 19, lines 11-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-9 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 34, lines 47-35 — Transcript, file page 34, lines 47-35
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 10, lines 19-19 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 19-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 23-31 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 23-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 41-45 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 41-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-31 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 41-43 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 41-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 41-47 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 41-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 13-19 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 13-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 7-33 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 7-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 25-37 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 25-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 9-13 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 9-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 21-23 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 21-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 5-13 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 5-13
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 19, lines 11-5 — Transcript, file page 19, lines 11-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-9 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 34, lines 47-35 — Transcript, file page 34, lines 47-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 11-5 — Transcript, file page 19, lines 11-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-9 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 34, lines 47-35 — Transcript, file page 34, lines 47-35
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.