Document ID: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-ca10-87-02336/USCOURTS-ca10-87-02336-0/pdf.json

Parties Involved:
Edward L. Gaylord
Appellee
Dean Krakel
Appellant
James P. Linn
Appellee
Gerald E. Marshall
Appellee

Document Text:

.,. 

FILED 

UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS 

FOR THE TENTH CIRCUIT 

United States Court of Appeals 'T'1-nth C:ircnit 

JAN 2 71989 

DEAN KRAKEL, 

Plaintiff-Appellant, 

v. 

EDWARD L. GAYLORD; JAMES P. LINN;, 

and GERALD E. MARSHALL 

Defendants-Appellees. 

ROBERT L. HOECKER 

) Clerk 

) 

) 

) 

) No. 87-2336 

) (D.C. No. 87-520-T) 

) (W.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 

Plaintiff commenced the underlying action on March 12, 1987. 

In his first amended complaint, plaintiff alleged, inter alia, 

that defendants, with malicious intent, engaged in a conspiracy 

during which they caused "false, libelous, slanderous, and 

defamatory'' statements to be published regarding thi plaintiff's 

personal and professional reputation. These statements were 

allegedly published between February 27, 1985, and April 1, 1986. 

As pled, the principal objective of the alleged conspiracy was to 

Appellate Case: 87-2336 Document: 01019962405 Date Filed: 01/27/1989 Page: 1 
cause plaintiff's employment relationship with the National Cowboy 

Hall of Fame and Western Heritage Center to be terminated. 

The district court characterized plaintiff's action as in the 

nature of one for defamation and dismissed as to all claims which 

accrued more than one year prior to the commencement of the 

action. Under the district court's analysis, these claims were 

time-barred under the Oklahoma one-year statute of limitations for 

defamation. Those claims which were not time-barred were 

dismissed for failure to plead with sufficient specificity, the 

nature of the objectionable language. Plaintiff was allowed an 

opportunity to replead with respect to those claims to cure the 

deficiency. However, plaintiff elected to stand on first amended 

complaint, and this appeal followed. 

On appeal, plaintiff argues that the district court abused 

its discretion by failing to permit him to again amend the 

complaint to set out his theory of recovery for conspiracy. 

However, there is no indication that plaintiff sought either 

reconsideration of the district court's order of dismissal or 

leave to further amend the complaint in order to set out the 

conspiracy theory. 

Our review of the record persuades us that the district court 

accurately characterized plaintiff's action as plead in the 

amended complaint. Further, the dismissal of the action for 

failure to state a claim was correct. 

2 

Appellate Case: 87-2336 Document: 01019962405 Date Filed: 01/27/1989 Page: 2 
The judgment of the United States District Court for the 

Western District of Oklahoma is AFFIRMED. 

The mandate shall issue forthwith. 

ENTERED FOR THE COURT 

PER CURIAM 

3 

Appellate Case: 87-2336 Document: 01019962405 Date Filed: 01/27/1989 Page: 3