By Rich Scinto, Register Staff rscinto@newhavenregister.com<\/a> \/ Twitter: @rscinto_nhr <\/p>\n Healthbridge and CareOne jointly filed a RICO lawsuit against two Service Employees International Union affiliates just days before the union strike at five Connecticut nursing homes, including one in Milford, reaches its 100th day. <\/p>\n The companies claim United Healthcare Workers East, SEIU 1199 and New England Health Care Employees Union, District 1119 have engaged in a long-term pattern of sabotage, intimidation and other acts of extortion, according to a release from CareOne Management. <\/p>\n The nursing homes are in Danbury, Newington Stamford, Milford and Westport. About 700 strikers took to the picket lines in July to protest what they say are imposed labor concessions. <\/p>\n District 1199 representatives said the lawsuit is another desperate attack on union members. <\/p>\n The announcement of HealthBridges lawsuit against its own employees is just the latest in a series of aggressive actions by the company that has no basis in either fact or law, said David Pickus, president of SEIU District 1199 in a statement. HealthBridge has repeatedly filed charges at the labor board against the union that were then quietly withdrawn or dismissed. <\/p>\n The Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Statute is a federal law enacted in 1970 as part of the Organized Crime Control Act. <\/p>\n It doesnt necessarily apply only to organized crime, but thats certainly the paradigm, said W. John Thomas, a professor in the School of Law at Quinnipiac University who specializes in health policy law. <\/p>\n Thomas said that RICO lawsuits arent unheard of in similar situations. <\/p>\n Its certainly an extreme tactic, Thomas said. Ive never seen it used successfully in this type of situation. <\/p>\n<\/p>\n Here is the original post:<\/p>\n 2 Connecticut health care operators file RICO lawsuit<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" By Rich Scinto, Register Staff rscinto@newhavenregister.com<\/a> \/ Twitter: @rscinto_nhr Healthbridge and CareOne jointly filed a RICO lawsuit against two Service Employees International Union affiliates just days before the union strike at five Connecticut nursing homes, including one in Milford, reaches its 100th day. Continue reading