Negrete v. Allianz Life Insurance Co. of North America — 926 F. Supp. 2d 1143 (2013) · United States District Court for the Central District of California · 2013

United States District Court for the Central District of California · 2013-02-25

18usc1962: author: Fable · historical QA: PASS (QA2, neov2/qa/cases-QA2.md) · changed after review; current content not independently reviewed

Original case on neochart.com

Case and law context

18 U.S.C. § 1962

Role: applied; posture: civil; certified nationwide class of senior annuity purchasers v. insurer; defendant's third motion for summary judgment on the RICO claims (person/enterprise distinctness, causation, release, parol evidence); denied except as to claims released by a prior class settlement; result: mixed; claim: (c),(d)

Uncertainty

None recorded

Misfit

The decisive question is again a RELATION, distinct(person, enterprise) (now a constraint on the .law side), where the person is a MEMBER of the association-in-fact; recorded under `person` as in Cedric Kushner. The court weighs control against independence, but the v0 fact lines were chosen from the independence side, so polarity shows only [supports]; the opposing facts (ownership of 13 members, "agent" labels, substantial contractual control) live in the gloss and the quote set is frozen.

`satisfied [triable]` on a DEFENDANT's summary-judgment motion means only "not negated as a matter of law"; yet for distinctness the court also says formal separation "alone" suffices (closer to [law]). One block cannot carry two bases (law for the legal-separation ruling, triable for the functional-separation alternative).

Holdings on enterprise/conspiracy/injury live in an earlier order in the same case (MSJ Order No. 2, 2011 WL 4852314) that this opinion only recites; no construct for "decided in a prior order of the same case". The `enterprise` block is left on merits scope (it is this court's ruling in this case; `lower-court` would be wrong) but its held line is that recital.

Many `fact` lines are party contentions or statement-of-facts citations ("According to plaintiffs...", "Allianz argues...") rather than findings; at summary judgment the court narrates both sides' versions and the notation has no slot for whose version a fact is.

Class action: causation is decided for a SUBSET of class members (buyers via non-enterprise sellers); `party` holds it, but class-wide proof of reliance/causation (signatures on standard forms) is a proof-method concept with no home.

`conduct` is not separately decided; it surfaces inside the causation holding (scope of "enterprise's affairs"). Recorded as its own block because the court states a usable rule, but it is really causation x conduct.

`result mixed` hides that every merits element went for plaintiffs and the only loss is a release defense as to part of the class; result has no per-defense/per-subclass granularity.

Defenses here are not RICO-specific (class-settlement release, state parol evidence rule) -- x- ids that belong to general civil procedure/evidence rather than to this law's model.

B · Case × element grid

Top-level elements follow claim order in panels of up to six elements. Case rows repeat across panels. Every recorded block retains its holding and basis; multiple blocks are not merged into a case-level verdict. ✓ satisfied · ✗ not satisfied · ○ not reached · · not addressed. Muted blocks are not counted. Sub-element evidence remains on case and element pages.

Elements 1–6 of 19

18 U.S.C. § 1962
CaseCulpable person (§ 1961(3)) distinct from the enterprise under (c)Pattern of racketeering activity (§ 1961(5)): at least two predicate acts with relatedness and continuityRacketeering activity (§ 1961(1) enumerated state and federal predicate offenses)Collection of an unlawful debt (§ 1961(6)) — alternative to pattern of racketeering activityUse or investment of racketeering income in an enterprise (§ 1962(a))Enterprise (§ 1961(4)): legal entity or association-in-fact
Negrete v. Allianz Life Insurance Co. of North America — 926 F. Supp. 2d 1143 (2013) · United States District Court for the Central District of California · 2013 (18usc1962: author: Fable · historical QA: PASS (QA2, neov2/qa/cases-QA2.md) · changed after review; current content not independently reviewed)
○ not reached · basis not recordedNot counted: applied/merits
· not addressed· not addressed· not addressed

Elements 7–12 of 19

18 U.S.C. § 1962
CaseInterstate or foreign commerce nexusDe minimis open-market securities investment proviso (§ 1962(a))Acquire or maintain interest in or control of an enterprise (§ 1962(b))Defendant employed by or associated with the enterprise (§ 1962(c))Conduct or participate in the conduct of enterprise affairs (§ 1962(c) operation or management test)Conspiracy to violate § 1962(a), (b), or (c) (§ 1962(d))
Negrete v. Allianz Life Insurance Co. of North America — 926 F. Supp. 2d 1143 (2013) · United States District Court for the Central District of California · 2013 (18usc1962: author: Fable · historical QA: PASS (QA2, neov2/qa/cases-QA2.md) · changed after review; current content not independently reviewed)· not addressed· not addressed· not addressed· not addressed
○ not reached · basis not recordedNot counted: applied/merits

Elements 13–18 of 19

18 U.S.C. § 1962
CaseCivil RICO injury to business or property (18 U.S.C. § 1964(c))But-for and proximate causation ("by reason of", 18 U.S.C. § 1964(c))Statute of limitations (4-year civil under Agency Holding; 5-year criminal under 18 U.S.C. § 3282)Claim preclusion / release by prior class-action settlementCivil aiding and abetting a RICO violation (rejected as a private cause of action)Fifth Amendment Double Jeopardy bar against successive RICO conspiracy/substantive prosecutions
Negrete v. Allianz Life Insurance Co. of North America — 926 F. Supp. 2d 1143 (2013) · United States District Court for the Central District of California · 2013 (18usc1962: author: Fable · historical QA: PASS (QA2, neov2/qa/cases-QA2.md) · changed after review; current content not independently reviewed)
○ not reached · basis not recordedNot counted: applied/merits
· not addressed
✓ satisfied · lawNot counted: applied/procedural
· not addressed· not addressed

Elements 19–19 of 19

18 U.S.C. § 1962
CaseParol evidence rule raised to bar extrinsic evidence of fraudulent misrepresentations
Negrete v. Allianz Life Insurance Co. of North America — 926 F. Supp. 2d 1143 (2013) · United States District Court for the Central District of California · 2013 (18usc1962: author: Fable · historical QA: PASS (QA2, neov2/qa/cases-QA2.md) · changed after review; current content not independently reviewed)

Instances and excluded annotation blocks

Annotation blocks, including explicitly excluded context
CaseElementHolding and scopePatternExact source quotations
Negrete v. Allianz Life Insurance Co. of North America — 926 F. Supp. 2d 1143 (2013) · United States District Court for the Central District of California · 2013 — satisfied · triable (18usc1962: author: Fable · historical QA: PASS (QA2, neov2/qa/cases-QA2.md) · changed after review; current content not independently reviewed)But-for and proximate causation ("by reason of", 18 U.S.C. § 1964(c))satisfied
Counted merits instance
applied / merits

basis: triable; claim: (c),(d); party: class members who bought annuities through marketing organizations that are not members of the alleged enterprise; subject: party=class members who bought annuities through marketing organizations that are not members of the alleged enterprise

Injury need not pass through an enterprise member: the defendant's own standardized sales documents, done in furtherance of the enterprise's affairs, reach buyers who dealt with non-member sellers. First fact line is the court's summary of plaintiffs' argument, which it then accepts.
purchasers-via-intermediaries-outside-the-enterprise
Because class members that purchased their annuity from non-enterprise FMOs still had to sign the “Allianzmandated” SOU, they suffered an injury by reason of Allianz’s operation of the enterprise.
Source: docroot/ir/caselaw/f_supp_2d_926.jsonl#/f-supp-2d/926/1143-01; Unicode character offsets [33147:33343] (end exclusive); SHA-256 21289dc912cdd3fe1c08a082d0c16baed1b869223da6aebc79966cadcfbee6ee.

Evidence kind: fact; polarity: supports; absent flag: 0; quoted-rule flag: 0 (1 = tagged; 0 = not tagged)

Thus, Allianz’s development of the annuity products, design and dissemination of the marketing materials and SOUs, creation and utilization of the MAC Board to further its marketing efforts, and leadership of the enterprise are all “enterprise activities” that were undertaken in furtherance of an alleged scheme to defraud financial products purchasers.
Source: docroot/ir/caselaw/f_supp_2d_926.jsonl#/f-supp-2d/926/1143-01; Unicode character offsets [35075:35429] (end exclusive); SHA-256 21289dc912cdd3fe1c08a082d0c16baed1b869223da6aebc79966cadcfbee6ee.

Evidence kind: fact; polarity: supports; absent flag: 0; quoted-rule flag: 0 (1 = tagged; 0 = not tagged)

And the “by reason of’ language of section 1964 requires a plaintiff to prove “but for” causation, proximate causation, and a concrete financial loss to a protectable business or property interest.
Source: docroot/ir/caselaw/f_supp_2d_926.jsonl#/f-supp-2d/926/1143-01; Unicode character offsets [29748:29945] (end exclusive); SHA-256 21289dc912cdd3fe1c08a082d0c16baed1b869223da6aebc79966cadcfbee6ee.

Evidence kind: rule; polarity: not recorded; absent flag: 0; quoted-rule flag: 0 (1 = tagged; 0 = not tagged)

A RICO defendant’s conduct cannot be so neatly divided into “enterprise activities” and “non-enterprise activities,” with only the former supporting liability under RICO.
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Evidence kind: rule; polarity: not recorded; absent flag: 0; quoted-rule flag: 0 (1 = tagged; 0 = not tagged)

Because all of Allianz’s actions appear to have been in furtherance of the alleged enterprise’s unlawful scheme — and not a frolic and detour by Allianz alone — a reasonable jury could find that all of the class members were directly injured by the enterprise’s affairs.
Source: docroot/ir/caselaw/f_supp_2d_926.jsonl#/f-supp-2d/926/1143-01; Unicode character offsets [36928:37198] (end exclusive); SHA-256 21289dc912cdd3fe1c08a082d0c16baed1b869223da6aebc79966cadcfbee6ee.

Evidence kind: held; polarity: not recorded; absent flag: 0; quoted-rule flag: 0 (1 = tagged; 0 = not tagged)

Negrete v. Allianz Life Insurance Co. of North America — 926 F. Supp. 2d 1143 (2013) · United States District Court for the Central District of California · 2013 — satisfied · triable (18usc1962: author: Fable · historical QA: PASS (QA2, neov2/qa/cases-QA2.md) · changed after review; current content not independently reviewed)Conduct or participate in the conduct of enterprise affairs (§ 1962(c) operation or management test)satisfied
Counted merits instance
applied / merits

basis: triable; claim: (c),(d)

Decided only as part of the causation argument: "the enterprise's affairs" include what the leader does alone in furtherance of the common purpose, not only its dealings with fellow members. Tension with distinctness (Reves: the enterprise's affairs, not the defendant's own) is noted by the court and resolved for plaintiffs.
leader-directing-distribution-network
This also includes the allegedly excessive commissions and lucrative incentive programs that Allianz created for all FMOs and their agents, see PSGI ¶¶ 133, 135, which purportedly furthered the enterprise’s “common purpose” of increasing the sales of Allianz products in the senior market
Source: docroot/ir/caselaw/f_supp_2d_926.jsonl#/f-supp-2d/926/1143-01; Unicode character offsets [35719:36007] (end exclusive); SHA-256 21289dc912cdd3fe1c08a082d0c16baed1b869223da6aebc79966cadcfbee6ee.

Evidence kind: fact; polarity: supports; absent flag: 0; quoted-rule flag: 0 (1 = tagged; 0 = not tagged)

Allianz cannot unilaterally redefine the alleged enterprise’s affairs based upon an exceedingly narrow conception of Allianz’s “operation or management” of the 19 FMO members of the enterprise, while ignoring plaintiffs’ evidence that Allianz undertook all of these actions in furtherance of the enterprise’s affairs — and not simply its own.
Source: docroot/ir/caselaw/f_supp_2d_926.jsonl#/f-supp-2d/926/1143-01; Unicode character offsets [36585:36927] (end exclusive); SHA-256 21289dc912cdd3fe1c08a082d0c16baed1b869223da6aebc79966cadcfbee6ee.

Evidence kind: held; polarity: not recorded; absent flag: 0; quoted-rule flag: 0 (1 = tagged; 0 = not tagged)

Negrete v. Allianz Life Insurance Co. of North America — 926 F. Supp. 2d 1143 (2013) · United States District Court for the Central District of California · 2013 — not reached (18usc1962: author: Fable · historical QA: PASS (QA2, neov2/qa/cases-QA2.md) · changed after review; current content not independently reviewed)Conspiracy to violate § 1962(a), (b), or (c) (§ 1962(d))not_reached
Excluded from merits counts
applied / merits

claim: (c),(d)

Held triable in the prior order; not revisited.
Unspecified routeNo source quotation recorded for this block.
Negrete v. Allianz Life Insurance Co. of North America — 926 F. Supp. 2d 1143 (2013) · United States District Court for the Central District of California · 2013 — satisfied · triable (18usc1962: author: Fable · historical QA: PASS (QA2, neov2/qa/cases-QA2.md) · changed after review; current content not independently reviewed)Enterprise (§ 1961(4)): legal entity or association-in-factsatisfied
Counted merits instance
applied / merits

basis: triable; claim: (c),(d)

Existence of the enterprise (purpose/relationships) was held triable in the PRIOR order (MSJ Order No. 2), only recited here; this opinion adds the distinctness analysis under `person`.
manufacturer-and-distribution-network
In the late 1990s, Allianz — and LifeUSA Holding Inc., which merged with Allianz in 1999— began acquiring ownership interests in certain FMOs under the banner of “Project Procure.”
Source: docroot/ir/caselaw/f_supp_2d_926.jsonl#/f-supp-2d/926/1143-01; Unicode character offsets [12184:12364] (end exclusive); SHA-256 21289dc912cdd3fe1c08a082d0c16baed1b869223da6aebc79966cadcfbee6ee.

Evidence kind: fact; polarity: supports; absent flag: 0; quoted-rule flag: 0 (1 = tagged; 0 = not tagged)

Moreover, this Court has previously found that the MAC Board members have demonstrated a “high degree of coordinated conduct with respect to targeted sales to seniors.”
Source: docroot/ir/caselaw/f_supp_2d_926.jsonl#/f-supp-2d/926/1143-01; Unicode character offsets [12927:13095] (end exclusive); SHA-256 21289dc912cdd3fe1c08a082d0c16baed1b869223da6aebc79966cadcfbee6ee.

Evidence kind: fact; polarity: supports; absent flag: 0; quoted-rule flag: 0 (1 = tagged; 0 = not tagged)

While the evidence supports plaintiffs’ contention that all of the FMOs work with Allianz with a view towards selling as many annuity products as possible in the senior market, this common purpose and other evidence of coordination does not make the FMOs and Allianz indistinguishable.
Source: docroot/ir/caselaw/f_supp_2d_926.jsonl#/f-supp-2d/926/1143-01; Unicode character offsets [20390:20675] (end exclusive); SHA-256 21289dc912cdd3fe1c08a082d0c16baed1b869223da6aebc79966cadcfbee6ee.

Evidence kind: fact; polarity: supports; absent flag: 0; quoted-rule flag: 0 (1 = tagged; 0 = not tagged)

Under Boyle, an association-in-fact enterprise must have “a purpose, relationships among those associated with the enterprise, and longevity sufficient to permit these associates to pursue the enterprise’s purpose.”
Source: docroot/ir/caselaw/f_supp_2d_926.jsonl#/f-supp-2d/926/1143-01; Unicode character offsets [9353:9568] (end exclusive); SHA-256 21289dc912cdd3fe1c08a082d0c16baed1b869223da6aebc79966cadcfbee6ee.

Evidence kind: rule; polarity: not recorded; absent flag: 0; quoted-rule flag: 1 (1 = tagged; 0 = not tagged)

On October 13, 2011, 2011 WL 4852314, the Court denied the motion, finding that disputed issues of material fact precluded summary judgment on the required elements of (1) a RICO enterprise; (2) an injury “by reason of’ the conduct constituting the alleged RICO violation; and (3) a RICO conspiracy.
Source: docroot/ir/caselaw/f_supp_2d_926.jsonl#/f-supp-2d/926/1143-01; Unicode character offsets [2641:2940] (end exclusive); SHA-256 21289dc912cdd3fe1c08a082d0c16baed1b869223da6aebc79966cadcfbee6ee.

Evidence kind: held; polarity: not recorded; absent flag: 0; quoted-rule flag: 0 (1 = tagged; 0 = not tagged)

Negrete v. Allianz Life Insurance Co. of North America — 926 F. Supp. 2d 1143 (2013) · United States District Court for the Central District of California · 2013 — not reached (18usc1962: author: Fable · historical QA: PASS (QA2, neov2/qa/cases-QA2.md) · changed after review; current content not independently reviewed)Civil RICO injury to business or property (18 U.S.C. § 1964(c))not_reached
Excluded from merits counts
applied / merits

claim: (c),(d)

Unspecified routeNo source quotation recorded for this block.
Negrete v. Allianz Life Insurance Co. of North America — 926 F. Supp. 2d 1143 (2013) · United States District Court for the Central District of California · 2013 — not reached (18usc1962: author: Fable · historical QA: PASS (QA2, neov2/qa/cases-QA2.md) · changed after review; current content not independently reviewed)Pattern of racketeering activity (§ 1961(5)): at least two predicate acts with relatedness and continuitynot_reached
Excluded from merits counts
applied / merits

claim: (c),(d)

Unspecified routeNo source quotation recorded for this block.
Negrete v. Allianz Life Insurance Co. of North America — 926 F. Supp. 2d 1143 (2013) · United States District Court for the Central District of California · 2013 — satisfied · triable (18usc1962: author: Fable · historical QA: PASS (QA2, neov2/qa/cases-QA2.md) · changed after review; current content not independently reviewed)Culpable person (§ 1961(3)) distinct from the enterprise under (c)satisfied
Counted merits instance
applied / merits

basis: triable; claim: (c),(d); party: Allianz (person) vs. "Senior Annuity Enterprise" (Allianz + 13 Allianz-owned marketing organizations + 6 independent ones); subject: party=Allianz (person) vs. "Senior Annuity Enterprise" (Allianz + 13 Allianz-owned marketing organizations + 6 independent ones)

Defendant corporation is the only RICO person and is itself a member of the association-in-fact. Distinctness survives because the other members are separately incorporated and six are unowned affiliates that sell rivals' products; "agent" labels in contracts and substantial control do not collapse them into the defendant. Rejects the single-corporate-family line (Riverwoods/Fitzgerald/Fogie) on these facts, and holds that even a "something more" test would be triable.
corporation-vs-network-of-owned-and-independent-distributors
According to plaintiffs, the Senior Annuity Enterprise consists of Allianz, the 13 FMOs in which Allianz holds ownership interests, and the 6 FMOs who have served as board members of the Market Advisory Committee (“MAC”).
Source: docroot/ir/caselaw/f_supp_2d_926.jsonl#/f-supp-2d/926/1143-01; Unicode character offsets [11962:12183] (end exclusive); SHA-256 21289dc912cdd3fe1c08a082d0c16baed1b869223da6aebc79966cadcfbee6ee.

Evidence kind: fact; polarity: supports; absent flag: 0; quoted-rule flag: 0 (1 = tagged; 0 = not tagged)

The degree of control Allianz exercises over the FMOs it does not own is defined by contract, PSGI ¶ 61, and Allianz and these FMOs do not share executives, employees, or co-mingle operating funds, and the FMOs handle payment of their operating expenses and employees.
Source: docroot/ir/caselaw/f_supp_2d_926.jsonl#/f-supp-2d/926/1143-01; Unicode character offsets [13436:13704] (end exclusive); SHA-256 21289dc912cdd3fe1c08a082d0c16baed1b869223da6aebc79966cadcfbee6ee.

Evidence kind: fact; polarity: supports; absent flag: 0; quoted-rule flag: 0 (1 = tagged; 0 = not tagged)

In addition, these FMOs sell various securities products offered by other insurance companies, including non-annuity products, and some of the FMOs also provide unrelated services like tax consulting, stock advice, and brokerage services.
Source: docroot/ir/caselaw/f_supp_2d_926.jsonl#/f-supp-2d/926/1143-01; Unicode character offsets [14139:14377] (end exclusive); SHA-256 21289dc912cdd3fe1c08a082d0c16baed1b869223da6aebc79966cadcfbee6ee.

Evidence kind: fact; polarity: supports; absent flag: 0; quoted-rule flag: 0 (1 = tagged; 0 = not tagged)

Unlike situations where a single corporate defendant is alleged to have “conspirefd] with himself,” River City, 960 F.2d at 1461, Allianz is alleged to have conspired with 19 formally-separate corporate entities (the enterprise) in furtherance of its alleged scheme to defraud.
Source: docroot/ir/caselaw/f_supp_2d_926.jsonl#/f-supp-2d/926/1143-01; Unicode character offsets [19420:19697] (end exclusive); SHA-256 21289dc912cdd3fe1c08a082d0c16baed1b869223da6aebc79966cadcfbee6ee.

Evidence kind: fact; polarity: supports; absent flag: 0; quoted-rule flag: 0 (1 = tagged; 0 = not tagged)

And whether Allianz-owned or not, none of the FMOs are pled as RICO persons in this case.
Source: docroot/ir/caselaw/f_supp_2d_926.jsonl#/f-supp-2d/926/1143-01; Unicode character offsets [25423:25512] (end exclusive); SHA-256 21289dc912cdd3fe1c08a082d0c16baed1b869223da6aebc79966cadcfbee6ee.

Evidence kind: fact; polarity: supports; absent flag: 0; quoted-rule flag: 0 (1 = tagged; 0 = not tagged)

Stated otherwise, the enterprise must be either “formally or practically separable from the person.”
Source: docroot/ir/caselaw/f_supp_2d_926.jsonl#/f-supp-2d/926/1143-01; Unicode character offsets [11379:11479] (end exclusive); SHA-256 21289dc912cdd3fe1c08a082d0c16baed1b869223da6aebc79966cadcfbee6ee.

Evidence kind: rule; polarity: not recorded; absent flag: 0; quoted-rule flag: 1 (1 = tagged; 0 = not tagged)

Quite simply, there is nothing inconsistent between a finding that Allianz has exerted some control over the FMOs at issue on the one hand, with a finding that the level of control that Allianz has exerted does not render the alleged enterprise indistinguishable from Allianz itself on the other.
Source: docroot/ir/caselaw/f_supp_2d_926.jsonl#/f-supp-2d/926/1143-01; Unicode character offsets [22033:22329] (end exclusive); SHA-256 21289dc912cdd3fe1c08a082d0c16baed1b869223da6aebc79966cadcfbee6ee.

Evidence kind: rule; polarity: not recorded; absent flag: 0; quoted-rule flag: 0 (1 = tagged; 0 = not tagged)

This formal separation is alone sufficient to support a finding of distinctiveness.
Source: docroot/ir/caselaw/f_supp_2d_926.jsonl#/f-supp-2d/926/1143-01; Unicode character offsets [19753:19836] (end exclusive); SHA-256 21289dc912cdd3fe1c08a082d0c16baed1b869223da6aebc79966cadcfbee6ee.

Evidence kind: held; polarity: not recorded; absent flag: 0; quoted-rule flag: 0 (1 = tagged; 0 = not tagged)

For all of the foregoing reasons, the Court finds that disputed issues of fact preclude a grant of summary judgment in Allianz’s favor on the issue of distinctiveness.
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Evidence kind: held; polarity: not recorded; absent flag: 0; quoted-rule flag: 0 (1 = tagged; 0 = not tagged)

Negrete v. Allianz Life Insurance Co. of North America — 926 F. Supp. 2d 1143 (2013) · United States District Court for the Central District of California · 2013 — not reached (18usc1962: author: Fable · historical QA: PASS (QA2, neov2/qa/cases-QA2.md) · changed after review; current content not independently reviewed)Mail or wire fraud predicate (18 U.S.C. §§ 1341, 1343)not_reached
Excluded from merits counts
applied / merits

claim: (c),(d)

Mail/wire fraud via misleading brochures and "Statements of Understanding" is the predicate; its elements are stated but not in issue on this motion.
Unspecified routeNo source quotation recorded for this block.
Negrete v. Allianz Life Insurance Co. of North America — 926 F. Supp. 2d 1143 (2013) · United States District Court for the Central District of California · 2013 — not · law (18usc1962: author: Fable · historical QA: PASS (QA2, neov2/qa/cases-QA2.md) · changed after review; current content not independently reviewed)Parol evidence rule raised to bar extrinsic evidence of fraudulent misrepresentationsnot
Counted merits instance
applied / merits

basis: law; claim: (c),(d)

Rests on a month-old change in California law (Riverisland overruling Pendergrass); court does not decide whether a state parol evidence rule could ever limit a federal RICO claim.
state-evidence-rule/does-not-bar-fraud-based-rico-claim
Generally, the parol evidence rule does not act to bar extrinsic evidence related to a fraud claim rather than a breach of contract claim.
Source: docroot/ir/caselaw/f_supp_2d_926.jsonl#/f-supp-2d/926/1143-01; Unicode character offsets [41428:41566] (end exclusive); SHA-256 21289dc912cdd3fe1c08a082d0c16baed1b869223da6aebc79966cadcfbee6ee.

Evidence kind: rule; polarity: not recorded; absent flag: 0; quoted-rule flag: 0 (1 = tagged; 0 = not tagged)

Because plaintiffs bring RICO claims grounded in fraud — not claims for breach of contract — evidence related to their claims is plainly not barred by the parol evidence rule.
Source: docroot/ir/caselaw/f_supp_2d_926.jsonl#/f-supp-2d/926/1143-01; Unicode character offsets [42849:43024] (end exclusive); SHA-256 21289dc912cdd3fe1c08a082d0c16baed1b869223da6aebc79966cadcfbee6ee.

Evidence kind: held; polarity: not recorded; absent flag: 0; quoted-rule flag: 0 (1 = tagged; 0 = not tagged)

Negrete v. Allianz Life Insurance Co. of North America — 926 F. Supp. 2d 1143 (2013) · United States District Court for the Central District of California · 2013 — satisfied · law (18usc1962: author: Fable · historical QA: PASS (QA2, neov2/qa/cases-QA2.md) · changed after review; current content not independently reviewed)Claim preclusion / release by prior class-action settlementsatisfied
Excluded from merits counts
applied / procedural

basis: law; claim: (c),(d); party: named plaintiff Ow and all class members within the Iorio class settlement; count: Ow's MasterDex 10 purchase and the other transactions released in Iorio; subject: party=named plaintiff Ow and all class members within the Iorio class settlement; count=Ow's MasterDex 10 purchase and the other transactions released in Iorio

release/class-member-did-not-opt-out-separate-suit-predates-settlement
Notably, plaintiffs do not dispute that Ow did not explicitly opt-out of the lorio settlement
Source: docroot/ir/caselaw/f_supp_2d_926.jsonl#/f-supp-2d/926/1143-01; Unicode character offsets [38680:38773] (end exclusive); SHA-256 21289dc912cdd3fe1c08a082d0c16baed1b869223da6aebc79966cadcfbee6ee.

Evidence kind: fact; polarity: supports; absent flag: 0; quoted-rule flag: 0 (1 = tagged; 0 = not tagged)

Here, plaintiff Ow indisputably filed this lawsuit long before the proposed settlement was reached in lorio; as such, his maintenance of this suit was insufficient to opt-out of the lorio settlement and judgment.
Source: docroot/ir/caselaw/f_supp_2d_926.jsonl#/f-supp-2d/926/1143-01; Unicode character offsets [39972:40184] (end exclusive); SHA-256 21289dc912cdd3fe1c08a082d0c16baed1b869223da6aebc79966cadcfbee6ee.

Evidence kind: fact; polarity: supports; absent flag: 0; quoted-rule flag: 0 (1 = tagged; 0 = not tagged)

courts have repeatedly found that maintenance of a separate lawsuit, which was initiated prior to the plaintiff receiving notice of the proposed settlement, does not serve as an opt-out from the class settlement.
Source: docroot/ir/caselaw/f_supp_2d_926.jsonl#/f-supp-2d/926/1143-01; Unicode character offsets [39641:39853] (end exclusive); SHA-256 21289dc912cdd3fe1c08a082d0c16baed1b869223da6aebc79966cadcfbee6ee.

Evidence kind: rule; polarity: not recorded; absent flag: 0; quoted-rule flag: 0 (1 = tagged; 0 = not tagged)

Accordingly, the Court finds that judgment shall be entered on the claims of all class members barred by the lorio agreement and judgment, including Ow’s claims with respect to his purchase of the MasterDex 10 annuity.
Source: docroot/ir/caselaw/f_supp_2d_926.jsonl#/f-supp-2d/926/1143-01; Unicode character offsets [40960:41178] (end exclusive); SHA-256 21289dc912cdd3fe1c08a082d0c16baed1b869223da6aebc79966cadcfbee6ee.

Evidence kind: held; polarity: not recorded; absent flag: 0; quoted-rule flag: 0 (1 = tagged; 0 = not tagged)

Court interpretations recorded from this case

interpretation

Stated otherwise, the enterprise must be either “formally or practically separable from the person.”

Negrete v. Allianz Life Insurance Co. of North America — 926 F. Supp. 2d 1143 (2013) · United States District Court for the Central District of California · 2013 (18usc1962: author: Fable · historical QA: PASS (QA2, neov2/qa/cases-QA2.md) · changed after review; current content not independently reviewed)

Stated otherwise, the enterprise must be either “formally or practically separable from the person.”
Source: docroot/ir/caselaw/f_supp_2d_926.jsonl#/f-supp-2d/926/1143-01; Unicode character offsets [11379:11479] (end exclusive); SHA-256 21289dc912cdd3fe1c08a082d0c16baed1b869223da6aebc79966cadcfbee6ee.

Under § 1962(c), a corporate defendant cannot be both the "person" and the "enterprise" (nor can it evade distinctness merely by defining the enterprise as the corporation plus its own employees/agents acting in the course of business).

interpretation

And the “by reason of’ language of section 1964 requires a plaintiff to prove “but for” causation, proximate causation, and a concrete financial loss to a protectable business or property interest.

Negrete v. Allianz Life Insurance Co. of North America — 926 F. Supp. 2d 1143 (2013) · United States District Court for the Central District of California · 2013 (18usc1962: author: Fable · historical QA: PASS (QA2, neov2/qa/cases-QA2.md) · changed after review; current content not independently reviewed)

And the “by reason of’ language of section 1964 requires a plaintiff to prove “but for” causation, proximate causation, and a concrete financial loss to a protectable business or property interest.
Source: docroot/ir/caselaw/f_supp_2d_926.jsonl#/f-supp-2d/926/1143-01; Unicode character offsets [29748:29945] (end exclusive); SHA-256 21289dc912cdd3fe1c08a082d0c16baed1b869223da6aebc79966cadcfbee6ee.

Under Holmes v. SIPC (503 U.S. 258 (1992)), Anza, and Hemi Group, proximate cause requires "some direct relation between the injury asserted and the injurious conduct alleged".

interpretation

And the “by reason of’ language of section 1964 requires a plaintiff to prove “but for” causation, proximate causation, and a concrete financial loss to a protectable business or property interest.

Negrete v. Allianz Life Insurance Co. of North America — 926 F. Supp. 2d 1143 (2013) · United States District Court for the Central District of California · 2013 (18usc1962: author: Fable · historical QA: PASS (QA2, neov2/qa/cases-QA2.md) · changed after review; current content not independently reviewed)

And the “by reason of’ language of section 1964 requires a plaintiff to prove “but for” causation, proximate causation, and a concrete financial loss to a protectable business or property interest.
Source: docroot/ir/caselaw/f_supp_2d_926.jsonl#/f-supp-2d/926/1143-01; Unicode character offsets [29748:29945] (end exclusive); SHA-256 21289dc912cdd3fe1c08a082d0c16baed1b869223da6aebc79966cadcfbee6ee.

Civil RICO claims are governed by a 4-year statute of limitations borrowed from the Clayton Act (Agency Holding Corp. v. Malley-Duff, 483 U.S. 143 (1987)), accruing under the injury-discovery rule (Rotella v. Wood, 528 U.S. 549 (2000)).

interpretation

courts have repeatedly found that maintenance of a separate lawsuit, which was initiated prior to the plaintiff receiving notice of the proposed settlement, does not serve as an opt-out from the class settlement.

Negrete v. Allianz Life Insurance Co. of North America — 926 F. Supp. 2d 1143 (2013) · United States District Court for the Central District of California · 2013 (18usc1962: author: Fable · historical QA: PASS (QA2, neov2/qa/cases-QA2.md) · changed after review; current content not independently reviewed)

courts have repeatedly found that maintenance of a separate lawsuit, which was initiated prior to the plaintiff receiving notice of the proposed settlement, does not serve as an opt-out from the class settlement.
Source: docroot/ir/caselaw/f_supp_2d_926.jsonl#/f-supp-2d/926/1143-01; Unicode character offsets [39641:39853] (end exclusive); SHA-256 21289dc912cdd3fe1c08a082d0c16baed1b869223da6aebc79966cadcfbee6ee.

General affirmative defense litigated in civil RICO class actions.

interpretation

Generally, the parol evidence rule does not act to bar extrinsic evidence related to a fraud claim rather than a breach of contract claim.

Negrete v. Allianz Life Insurance Co. of North America — 926 F. Supp. 2d 1143 (2013) · United States District Court for the Central District of California · 2013 (18usc1962: author: Fable · historical QA: PASS (QA2, neov2/qa/cases-QA2.md) · changed after review; current content not independently reviewed)

Generally, the parol evidence rule does not act to bar extrinsic evidence related to a fraud claim rather than a breach of contract claim.
Source: docroot/ir/caselaw/f_supp_2d_926.jsonl#/f-supp-2d/926/1143-01; Unicode character offsets [41428:41566] (end exclusive); SHA-256 21289dc912cdd3fe1c08a082d0c16baed1b869223da6aebc79966cadcfbee6ee.

Rejected as a bar to mail/wire fraud RICO predicates sounding in tort rather than contract enforcement.