This is the first of a two-part column. The second part will be published on Tuesday.Acknowledging that the validity of Steven Menzies’ civil racketeering case against several promoters of a tax-shelter scheme was a “close question,” the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals — with one judge dissenting — affirmed an order that tossed his second amended complaint as failing to adequately allege a pattern of racketeering activity. Menzies v. Seyfarth Shaw, No. 18-3232 (Nov. 12, 2019).In 2002, four …