Building a Wall Against Private Actions for Overseas Injuries: The Impact of RJR Nabisco v. European Community

30 Pages Posted: 18 Aug 2016 Last revised: 22 Jun 2017

See all articles by Franklin A. Gevurtz

Franklin A. Gevurtz

University of the Pacific - McGeorge School of Law

Date Written: August 15, 2016

Abstract

The Supreme Court’s June decision in RJR Nabisco dropped a hidden bombshell. While nominally only a decision about the extraterritorial reach of RICO, the reasoning behind the Court’s denying recovery under RICO’s private cause of action provision for injuries incurred outside the United States might be equally applicable to virtually any federal statute. Doctrinally questionable, the Court’s decision nevertheless appears to implement an initially sensible policy distinction. The specific line the Court drew, however, misses the mark in implementing this policy and carries implications that the Court may not have fully recognized.

Keywords: extraterritoriality

Suggested Citation

Gevurtz, Franklin A., Building a Wall Against Private Actions for Overseas Injuries: The Impact of RJR Nabisco v. European Community (August 15, 2016). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2824779 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2824779

Franklin A. Gevurtz (Contact Author)

University of the Pacific - McGeorge School of Law ( email )

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