Statement by Hans Bader, Special Projects Counsel
Washington, D.C., October 17, 2005— The Supreme Court today rightly rejected the Justice Department’s attempt to revive its demand that the tobacco industry pay the Government $280 billion under the Racketeer-Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO), denying the Justice Department’s petition for certiorari in United States v. Philip Morris.
The government argued that a statutory provision permitting the government “to prevent and restrain violations” of RICO allowed it to seek money for past violations, even…
