October 25, 2006

The New York Times headline—"No Mob Bosses in This Legal Strategy"—says it all. When I researched the question thirteen years ago, civil RICO had yet to be used against violent organized crime. I don't think that's changed. The latest attempt: the French company Vivendi is suing the German Deutsche Telekom over a Polish telecom deal gone bad after an Austrian arbitration ruled in favor of Deutsche Telekom. Why this is filed in Seattle? "The latest legal step is based on Vivendi’s contention that American phone networks were used to send e-mail messages as part of an organized scheme to defraud the company." (Ken Belson and Kevin O'Brien, New York Times, Oct. 25) (via Bashman). Earlier on Point of Law: Jun. 19 and links therein.