October Term 2015 · Docket 15-138
Does civil RICO cover foreign injuries?
The European Community seeks damages for tobacco harm abroad. RJR Nabisco argues the law only covers domestic injuries.
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
Ms. Goldenberg argued Section 1962 affects government prosecutions.
Mr. Katsas stated the Second Circuit extended RICO to foreign claims.
Mr. Frederick noted the EU sued for actions in the U.S.
Justice Breyer questioned the purpose of including foreign acts in RICO.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 16-22 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 16-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 42-22 — Transcript, file page 19, lines 42-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 22-36 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 22-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-48 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 50-4 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 50-4
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 8-18 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 8-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 28-32 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 28-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 24-14 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 24-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 50-16 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 50-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 34-50 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 34-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 14-16 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 14-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 26-38 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 26-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 4-8 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 4-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 42-46 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 42-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 50-4 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 50-4
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 44-50 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 44-50
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
The case tests whether civil RICO applies to foreign injuries. The European Community wants compensation for harm in Europe. RJR Nabisco wants the claim dismissed. The Second Circuit allowed the foreign claim. the sides that brought the case ask the Court to reverse that ruling.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 42-22 — Transcript, file page 19, lines 42-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 22-36 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 22-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-48 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-48
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on March 21, 2016.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 8-18 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 8-18
What each side wants
The European Community wants damages for foreign injuries.
RJR Nabisco wants the foreign claim dismissed.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 42-22 — Transcript, file page 19, lines 42-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 22-36 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 22-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-48 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-48
What each side says
The European Community argues RICO covers foreign injuries.
RJR Nabisco argues RICO covers only domestic injuries.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 42-22 — Transcript, file page 19, lines 42-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 22-36 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 22-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-48 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-48
What the justices asked
Justice Breyer asked why Congress included foreign acts in RICO.
Justice Ginsburg asked if the statute implies domestic injury.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 16-22 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 16-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 50-4 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 50-4
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 28-32 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 28-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 24-14 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 24-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 50-16 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 50-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 34-50 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 34-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 14-16 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 14-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 26-38 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 26-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 4-8 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 4-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 42-46 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 42-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 50-4 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 50-4
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 44-50 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 44-50
Why it matters
This case defines the geographic reach of civil RICO. It determines whether foreign victims can sue in U.S. courts. It affects how companies face liability for global conduct. It shapes the balance between domestic and foreign legal claims.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 42-22 — Transcript, file page 19, lines 42-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 22-36 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 22-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-48 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-48
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 16-22 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 16-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 50-4 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 50-4
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 8-18 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 8-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 28-32 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 28-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 24-14 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 24-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 50-16 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 50-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 34-50 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 34-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 14-16 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 14-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 26-38 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 26-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 4-8 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 4-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 42-46 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 42-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 50-4 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 50-4
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 44-50 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 44-50
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 42-22 — Transcript, file page 19, lines 42-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 22-36 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 22-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-48 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 42-22 — Transcript, file page 19, lines 42-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 22-36 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 22-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-48 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-48
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.