Opinion ID: 692976
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Nelson's Supplemental State-Law Claims

Text: 40 Nelson pleaded a number of claims under New Jersey law but the district court in the exercise of its discretion under 28 U.S.C. Sec. 1367(c) declined to exercise jurisdiction over most of them. The court did consider one of Nelson's defamation claims but granted Upsala summary judgment on it because the action was barred by the statute of limitations. The record, however, indicates that the parties entered into a stipulation providing that although the first publication apparently was time barred, the claim predicated on Freyberger's republication was timely. The district court may not have been aware of this stipulation as it seems only to have considered Freyberger's original remarks. Upsala argues that we nevertheless should affirm the summary judgment on the defamation claims on the merits. 9 41 We decline to consider the defamation claims. The district court seems to have exercised supplemental jurisdiction over the defamation claim arising from the first remark because the proper disposition of the claim appeared rather obvious. Indeed, the court disposed of the claim in a short paragraph in its opinion. Now, however, Upsala urges that we affirm the summary judgment on more complex grounds. While Upsala's substantive contentions might be correct, we conclude that there is no reason for the exercise of supplemental jurisdiction in this case as summary judgment is being granted on the federal claim. 10