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.