A 1980s law originally aimed mainly at organized crime can be used in domestic disputes, the Georgia Supreme Court clarified in a ruling involving a legal clash between former spouses.
The decision last week reversed the state Court of Appeals, which had ruled that the Georgia Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, or RICO, did not apply to domestic disputes.
Legal experts were not surprised by the high court’s decision but said it preserves a powerful legal tool that could lead to more respect for civil proceedings, since the racketeering law enhances the consequences for playing fast and loose with facts and rules.
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