Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-ca10-87-01609/USCOURTS-ca10-87-01609-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 850
Nature of Suit: Securities, Commodities, Exchange
Cause of Action: 

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UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS 

FOR THE TENTH CIRCUIT 

FILED 

United St.at.es Court of Appeals 

Tenth Circuit 

JAN 2 71989 

MARVIN L. MORSE, 

Plaintiff-Appellee, 

ROBERT L. HOECKER 

) Clerk 

) 

) 

) 

v. ) No. 87-1609 

) (D.C. No. 85-C-740-B) 

DEAN B. KNIGHT, 

Defendant-Appellant, 

TOWN AND COUNTRY BANK, a banking 

institution: FRED P. LEIDING, an 

individual: JACK G. STEELE, an 

individual, 

Defendants. 

) (N.D. Okla.) 

) 

) 

) 

) 

) 

) 

) 

) 

) 

ORDER AND JUDGMENT 

Before McKAY, MOORE, and BRORBY, Circuit Judges. 

After examining the briefs and appellate record, this panel 

has determined unanimously that oral argument would not materially 

assist the determination of this appeal. See Fed. R. App. P. 

34(a): 10th Cir. R. 34.1.8. 

submitted without oral argument. 

The cause is therefore ordered 

The sole issue in this appeal is whether the district court 

abused its discretion in failing to award attorney's fees to two 

successful defendants in the underlying action. Defendants sought 

attorney's fees under state and federal security laws or, in the 

alternative, under Fed. R. Civ. P. 11. The district court 

Appellate Case: 87-1609 Document: 01019962410 Date Filed: 01/27/1989 Page: 1 
determined that the defendants were entitled to the award of 

attorney's fees only if plaintiff's claims were without merit 

within the meaning of the applicable statutes and rule. The 

district court concluded that while the plaintiff was not 

ultimately successful, the action was neither without merit nor a 

violation of Rule 11. 

We observe that the district court's dispositive order is 

almost thirty pages in length. Further, the district court is 

clearly in the best position to determine relative strength or 

weakness of the underlying action. Under the circumstances, we 

agree with the district court's conclusions regarding the award of 

attorney's fees. There is nothing in the record that indicates 

that the district court abused his substantial discretion. 

The judgment of the United States District Court for the 

Northern District of Oklahoma is AFFIRMED. 

The mandate shall issue forthwith. 

ENTERED FOR THE COURT 

PER CURIAM 

2 

Appellate Case: 87-1609 Document: 01019962410 Date Filed: 01/27/1989 Page: 2