Case: Ricci v. Key Bancshares of Maine, Inc.

2:82-cv-00249 | U.S. District Court for the District of Maine

Filed Date: Aug. 26, 1982

Closed Date: June 17, 1987

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Case Summary

Plaintiff, an Italian-American businessman whose business operations depended on a revolving line of credit with a bank, brought suit against Defendant-bank after the bank terminated his line of credit, allegedly because of the Plaintiff's national origin. The Defendant-bank then impleaded third-party Defendants, F.B.I. agents, who had allegedly made statements to the Defendant-bank about the Plaintiff's business activities that led the Defendant-bank to terminate the Plaintiff's line of credit…

Plaintiff, an Italian-American businessman whose business operations depended on a revolving line of credit with a bank, brought suit against Defendant-bank after the bank terminated his line of credit, allegedly because of the Plaintiff's national origin. The Defendant-bank then impleaded third-party Defendants, F.B.I. agents, who had allegedly made statements to the Defendant-bank about the Plaintiff's business activities that led the Defendant-bank to terminate the Plaintiff's line of credit. After the Plaintiff succeeded in the District Court on claims premised on the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, 15 U.S.C. 1691, the Fair Credit Reporting Act, 15 U.S.C. 1681, and 42 U.S.C. 1981, 1982, the F.B.I. agents filed a motion for summary judgment against the Defendant-bank's suit for contribution from them. U.S. District Court Judge David Mazzone denied the F.B.I. agents' motion for summary judgment.

The F.B.I. agents appealed the District Court's adverse ruling on official immunity, and on July 24, 1985, the First Circuit reversed the District Court and held the F.B.I. agents were immune from the suit for contribution. Ricci v. Key Bancshares of Maine, Inc., 768 F.2d 456 (1st Cir. 1985). Subsequent to the federal appellate court's ruling, on June 17, 1987, the District Court upheld the grant of punitive damages against the Defendant-lender. Ricci v. Key Bancshares of Maine, Inc., 662 F. Supp. 1132 (D. Me. 1987).

Summary Authors

Andrew Nash (6/2/2008)

People


Judge(s)

Aldrich, Bailey (Massachusetts)

Bownes, Hugh Henry (New Hampshire)

Breyer, Stephen Gerald (District of Columbia)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Axelrod , Robert M. (Connecticut)

Bergenn, James M. (Connecticut)

Attorney for Defendant
Expert/Monitor/Master/Other

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Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document

2:82-cv-00249

Docket (PACER)

Ricci, et al v. Depositors Corp., et al

Aug. 26, 1982

Aug. 26, 1982

Docket

2:82-cv-00249

Opinion

Ricci v. Keybancshares of Maine, Inc.

July 11, 1986

July 11, 1986

Order/Opinion

111 F.R.D. 111

85-01052

85-01309

[Order]

Ricci v. Keybancshares of Maine, Inc.

U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit

July 24, 1986

July 24, 1986

Order/Opinion

768 F.2d 768

2:82-cv-00249

Memorandum Opinion and Order

June 18, 1987

June 18, 1987

Order/Opinion

662 F.Supp. 662

Docket

Last updated Feb. 3, 2024, 3:03 a.m.

Docket sheet not available via the Clearinghouse.

Case Details

State / Territory: Maine

Case Type(s):

Fair Housing/Lending/Insurance

Key Dates

Filing Date: Aug. 26, 1982

Closing Date: June 17, 1987

Case Ongoing: No

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

Corporate plaintiffs who suffered monetary damages when Key Bancshares of Maine, Inc. ceased to loan them money.

Plaintiff Type(s):

Private Plaintiff

Public Interest Lawyer: No

Filed Pro Se: No

Class Action Sought: No

Class Action Outcome: Not sought

Defendants

Key Bancshares of Maine, Inc., Private Entity/Person

Depositors Corp., Private Entity/Person

Depositors Trust Co. of Southern Maine, Private Entity/Person

Canal Bank and Trust, Private Entity/Person

Case Details

Causes of Action:

42 U.S.C. § 1981

42 U.S.C. § 1982

Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA), 15 U.S.C. § 1691

Available Documents:

Trial Court Docket

Any published opinion

Outcome

Prevailing Party: Plaintiff

Nature of Relief:

Damages

Source of Relief:

Litigation

Issues

General:

Funding

Discrimination-area:

Lending

Discrimination-basis:

National origin discrimination

National Origin/Ethnicity:

Other