Law.com Subscribers SAVE 30%

Call 855-808-4530 or email [email protected] to receive your discount on a new subscription.

Third Circuit Weighs in on the Extortion Defense to Bribery

BY Bruce E. Yannett, Sean Hecker
November 22, 2011

Given that the legislative history of the Federal Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) makes clear Congress's intent that the statute not apply to cases of “true extortion” (see S. Rep. No. 95-114, at 10'11 (1977), reprinted in 1977 U.S.C.C.A.N. 4098, 4108), it is perhaps surprising that so few FCPA defendants invoke an extortion defense. After all, it is often common in cases of foreign public corruption that the officials involved have demanded the corrupt payment to “get things done,” and have excluded those unprepared to pay a bribe from receiving a fair hearing on an application for a contract or some other required approval.

In other words, if, as we suspect, the minority of bribes are initiated by bribe-payers, why would an extortion defense not be the cornerstone of more FCPA defenses than it is presently?

In a recent decision in a domestic bribery case, the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, after canvassing the law relating to extortion as a defense to federal bribery charges, identified the principal reasons why extortion is so rarely raised, and even more rarely effective, as a defense.

This premium content is locked for Entertainment Law & Finance subscribers only

  • Stay current on the latest information, rulings, regulations, and trends
  • Includes practical, must-have information on copyrights, royalties, AI, and more
  • Tap into expert guidance from top entertainment lawyers and experts

For enterprise-wide or corporate acess, please contact Customer Service at [email protected] or 877-256-2473

Read These Next
Yachts, Jets, Horses & Hooch: Specialized Commercial Leasing Models Image

Defining commercial real estate asset class is essentially a property explaining how it identifies — not necessarily what its original intention was or what others think it ought to be. This article discusses, from a general issue-spot and contextual analysis perspective, how lawyers ought to think about specialized leasing formats and the regulatory backdrops that may inform what the documentation needs to contain for compliance purposes.

Hyperlinked Documents: The Latest e-Discovery Challenge Image

As courts and discovery experts debate whether hyperlinked content should be treated the same as traditional attachments, legal practitioners are grappling with the technical and legal complexities of collecting, analyzing and reviewing these documents in real-world cases.

Identifying Your Practice's Differentiator Image

How to Convey Your Merits In a Way That Earns Trust, Clients and Distinctions Just as no two individuals have the exact same face, no two lawyers practice in their respective fields or serve clients in the exact same way. Think of this as a "Unique Value Proposition." Internal consideration about what you uniquely bring to your clients, colleagues, firm and industry can provide untold benefits for your law practice.

Risks and Ad Fraud Protection In Digital Advertising Image

The ever-evolving digital marketing landscape, coupled with the industry-wide adoption of programmatic advertising, poses a significant threat to the effectiveness and integrity of digital advertising campaigns. This article explores various risks to digital advertising from pixel stuffing and ad stacking to domain spoofing and bots. It will also explore what should be done to ensure ad fraud protection and improve effectiveness.

Turning Business Development Plans Into Reality Image

This article offers practical insights and best practices to navigate the path from roadmap to rainmaking, ensuring your business development efforts are not just sporadic bursts of activity, but an integrated part of your daily success.