Pot-Growing Grandma Loses Racketeering Case Over Alleged Con Job

A California grandmother who tried to turn her farming expertise into a multimillion-dollar cannabis business lacks standing to pursue racketeering litigation over the collapse of her partnership with an alleged con man.

The US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit on Wednesday rejected Francine Shulman’s claims under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act. Her lawsuit targeted Todd Kaplan, allegedly a convicted tax felon with a history of trying to seize control of small businesses by threatening, intimidating, and defrauding his partners.

Judge Milan D. Smith Jr., writing for the court, said damage to a marijuana business can’t confer ...