Court allows fraud claim against adoption agency to go forward
Seven couples sued the "Waiting Angels Adoption Services, Inc.," arguing that they were defrauded by the agency and individuals Simone Boraggina and Joseph Beauvais. The Defendants sought summary disposition of the claims and in response the couples identified four specific acts as evidence that the agency was a "Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organization." The trial court held that the evidence put forward by the couples was not adequate to pursue a RICO claim against the Defendants, however, the Sixth Circuit reversed and reinstated the claim. Among the misrepresentations documented by the couples were claims by the Defendants that the agency was a non-profit, and claims that specific children were currently awaiting adoption.