Two relatively recent cases involve civil Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) claims by asbestos defendants against prominent asbestos plaintiffs lawyers. Both cases involve allegations the lawyers deliberately fabricated false claims.
CSX Transportation v. Gilkison
For years, Robert Peirce & Associates, then known as Peirce, Raimond & Coulter P.C., brought thousands of asbestos claims against CSX Transportation Inc. Then, CSX turned the tables. In 2005, CSX brought a civil RICO, common-law fraud and civil conspiracy action titled CSX Transportation v. Gilkison (Civil Action No. 5:05CV202, Northern District of West Virginia). The action was brought against the firm, one of its employees (Robert Gilkison), the three named partners of the firm and Dr. Ray A. Harron, an expert frequently employed by plaintiffs attorneys in asbestos cases (in a separate case, U.S. District Judge Janis Jack of the Southern District of Texas found Harron falsified X-ray reports, and he lost his license in seven states). The action alleged nine of the lawsuits brought by the Peirce firm against CSX were fraudulent.
This content has been archived. It is available through our partners, LexisNexis® and Bloomberg Law.
To view this content, please continue to their sites.
Not a Lexis Subscriber?
Subscribe Now
Not a Bloomberg Law Subscriber?
Subscribe Now
LexisNexis® and Bloomberg Law are third party online distributors of the broad collection of current and archived versions of ALM's legal news publications. LexisNexis® and Bloomberg Law customers are able to access and use ALM's content, including content from the National Law Journal, The American Lawyer, Legaltech News, The New York Law Journal, and Corporate Counsel, as well as other sources of legal information.
For questions call 1-877-256-2472 or contact us at [email protected]
