Sacks Tierney Reverses Arbitration Order in High-Stakes Civil RICO Case
Scottsdale, AZ – August 18, 2025 – In a significant procedural victory, Christopher D. Lonn, an attorney at Sacks Tierney, successfully overturned an arbitration order in a substantial Civil Racketeering (RICO) lawsuit, ensuring that the case will proceed in Arizona Superior Court rather than in private arbitration.
The case began when Chris, representing his client, filed suit in Superior Court against the defendants. The defendants moved for and obtained an order compelling arbitration, which initially threatened to move the case out of the public court system. After a thorough analysis of the Court’s order, Chris identified strong legal grounds to challenge it. He filed motions for clarification and reconsideration, prompting the Court to require full briefing on both motions.
In a pivotal turn, the Court agreed with the authorities cited by Chris and scheduled an evidentiary hearing on the matter. After a half-day hearing, the Court issued a landmark ruling:
- The arbitration clause was not enforceable
- The case will remain in Superior Court for adjudication
“This ruling underscores our commitment to pursuing every available avenue to protect our clients’ rights and ensure fair adjudication,” said Chris.
About Christopher D. Lonn
Christopher D. Lonn’s law practice focuses on complex commercial and financial litigation, securities and investment fraud litigation/arbitration, trade secret litigation, and construction litigation. He also regularly litigates real estate disputes, represents licensed professionals in regulatory proceedings, and handles business partner disputes, business tort litigation, and employment law litigation. Chris is licensed to practice in Arizona and California.
About Sacks Tierney
Since its founding, Sacks Tierney has distinguished itself through a tradition of cause-related volunteerism, legal involvement in local and national issues, and the advancement to the bench by some of its members. The firm delivers litigation services and experience competitive with much larger firms, with expertise in areas of special value in Arizona, including construction law, healthcare law, Indian law, and water law.
Through purposeful recruiting and professional development, Sacks Tierney has positioned itself as a trusted firm for individuals, entrepreneurs, and corporate decision-makers who value excellence in legal skill and responsiveness and who respect the firm’s longstanding values.