Commercial Litigation and Arbitration

RICO Statute of Limitations Accrues When Plaintiff Had Sufficient Information to Warrant an Investigation (Merck Unmentioned but Irrelevant)

From Daly v. Pearl Spirits, Inc., 2011 U.S. App. LEXIS 12587 (9th Cir. April 13, 2011):

"The statute of limitations for civil RICO actions is four years." *** "The limitations period for civil RICO actions begins to run when a plaintiff knows or should know of the injury which is the basis for the action." Living Designs, Inc. v. E.I. Dupont de Nemours and Co., 431 F.3d 353, 365 (9th Cir. 2005) (citation omitted). [This is the conventional understanding but the Supreme Court has left open the possibility that the date of injury, regardless of knowledge, may trigger accrual.]

In May, 2004, Daly learned that the company had sold licensing rights to a third-party, who had the option to purchase the company's sole asset at the conclusion of the agreement. Daly's civil RICO claim is time-barred because Daly had "enough information to warrant an investigation" by May, 2004. Living Designs, 431 F.3d at 365. Indeed, by May, 2004, Daly's attorney had already drafted a complaint against Appellees. Daly's argument that the third-party's exercise of the option to purchase in 2006 triggered the statute of limitations is foreclosed by Volk v. D.A. Davidson & Co., 816 F.2d 1406, 1415 (9th Cir. 1987) (holding that the operative date on which the RICO statute of limitations began to run is when a plaintiff learns of the wrong, not the date on which it sustained the loss).

Share this article:

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Email

Recent Posts

RICO and Injunctions: (1) State Court Actions Designed to Perpetuate and Monetize a RICO Violation Are Enjoinable under RICO, Even Though They Are Not Themselves Alleged to Be Predicate Acts [Note: Noerr Pennington Applies in RICO Actions] — (2) Although Civil RICO’s Text and Legislative History Fail to Reveal Any Intent to Override the Provisions of the Federal Arbitration Act, Arbitrations Are Enjoinable Under the “Effective Vindication” Doctrine Where They Operate As a Prospective Waiver of a Party’s Right to Pursue Statutory RICO Remedies — (3) Arbitration Findings May Be Given Collateral Estoppel Effect in a Civil RICO Action — (4) Injunction of Non-Corrupt State Court Litigations That Furthers a RICO Violation Are Enjoinable Under the Anti-Injunction Act’s “Expressly Authorized” Exception — (5) “The Irreparable Harm Requirement Is The Single Most Important Prerequisite For The Issuance Of A Preliminary Injunction” (Good Quote) — (6) When Injunction Is Based on “Serious Questions on the Merits” Rather Than “Likelihood of Success,” Court May Rely on Unverified Pleadings and Attached Exhibits to Assess the Merits, Unless the Opponent Has Raised Substantial Questions (Here, the Opponent Failed to Request an Evidentiary Hearing) — (7) Whether Amended Pleading Moots An Appeal Turns on Whether It Materially Changes the Substantive Basis for the Appeal — (8) Meaning of “In That” (“Used To Introduce A Statement That Explains Or Gives More Specific Information” About A Prior Statement)

Archives