The RICO Act, also known as The Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, is an act passed by the United States Congress to allow anyone who has been financially injured by a pattern of criminal activity to seek redress through the state or federal courts.
Racketeering activities, upon which a RICO claim can be based includes a number of state criminal violations, such as murder, kidnapping, bribery, and arson. It can also include federal crimes, such as mail fraud, wire fraud, bank fraud, obstruction of justice, interstate transportation of stolen property, and extortion. The RICO Act defines a “pattern” as at least two acts of racketeering activity. If you think you may have a RICO claim, it is best to review all of the crimes listed in the RICO Act with a trained defense attorney.
There are two types of insurance fraud: hard fraud and soft fraud. Hard fraud occurs when a person intentionally fakes an accident, theft, injury, or death, in order to collect money from the insurance companies. Soft fraud, on the other hand, occurs when a person has a valid insurance claim, but falsifies part of the claim or exaggerates the damages that occurred in order to obtain the maximum benefits. Insurance fraud can take place in regards to life insurance, health insurance, auto insurance, and property insurance claims.
RICO is an acronym for the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act. This Act was put into place as part of the Organized Crime Control Act of 1970. However, civil RICO lawsuits are not limited to only cases of organized crime. It can also be applied to any legitimate business that engages in a pattern of racketeering activities, under the law. Common types of civil RICO activities include:
Bribery is considered as the offering, receiving, or giving of something in order to influence a public official, such as a member of congress, delegate, resident commissioner, or similar.
Threats of violence, property damage, harm to a reputation, or retribution used to force a victim into giving the perpetrator money or property, are all considered forms of extortion. Blackmail is the most common and familiar types of extortion.
This type of fraud, also commonly known as stock fraud, is the practice of convincing investors into making a certain decision based on false information of deception.
These schemes use the U.S. mail system or electronic sources, such as the phone or Internet, to defraud others of property or finances. This is usually done through telemarketing, email scams, and mail scams.
Embezzlement is a form of theft that is carried out by purposefully withholding any certain type of funds. Often times, funds are taken by a member of a company.
Insurance fraud refers to the commission of any act that is intended to obtain a favorable, yet fraudulent outcome, during an insurance claim.
These are just a few common examples of how civil RICO lawsuits can occur. If the unfortunate happens and you are involved in a civil RICO case, it is very important to seek legal representation immediately. At Ovadia Law Group, our experienced civil RICO defense lawyers are trained to successfully litigate Civil RICO actions throughout Hialeah Gardens. We are determined to get you the best results possible from your case. Your initial consultation is always free, so call our offices at 1-800-378-1242 today to find out how we can help with your case.
If you believe that you have a RICO claim in Hialeah Gardens or the surrounding areas, it is important to connect with a civil RICO defense attorney as soon as possible. The sooner you hire a Hialeah Gardens defense lawyer, the stronger your case will be. Contact our offices today at 1-800-378-1242 to speak with a reputable civil RICO defense attorney. Your initial consultation with one of our lawyers is always free.
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