Uber gets green light to pursue racketeering case against Philadelphia lawyer

By David Thomas Oct 13 (Reuters) — Uber Technologies can pursue civil racketeering claims against a Philadelphia-based lawyer even though the company's insurer footed its defense bills in a series of allegedly fraudulent personal injury lawsuits, a federal judge ruled on Tuesday. US District Judge Mark Kearney in Philadelphia held that the rideshare giant has standing to pursue its case against Marc Simon and his firm Simon & Simon. Uber alleges the law firm worked with doctors and other providers to file fraudulent personal injury claims against it and Federal Express Corporation. Simon and his firm have denied wrongdoing. "Uber did not relinquish its standing to sue parties who bring fraudulent claims against it by purchasing liability insurance and permitting its conduit, Farmers, to issue payments on its behalf," Kearney wrote in his 14-page ruling. An Uber spokesperson said in a statement that Kearney's ruling "makes clear that Uber can continue pursuing its racketeering claims, and we remain confident in our case." A spokesperson for Simon & Simon did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The case is scheduled to go to trial in March. Uber and FedEx have mounted s