Beutz v. A.O. Smith Harvestore Products, Inc.

WAHL, Justice.. These consolidated cases by plaintiff farmers against the manufacturers and sellers of agricultural equipment raise the question whether a federal court’s dismissal of plaintiffs’ claims under the Racketeering Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) operates as a res judicata bar to litigation of plaintiffs’ state law claims in state court. Trial courts of two state judicial districts found state law claims so barred. The Minnesota Court of Appeals reversed. We affirm that result.

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Plaintiffs Harvey and John Beutz and Daniel Fairchild purchased Harvestore silos designed…