Opinion ID: 465450
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Wager and Cunningham.

Text: 9 We affirm the dismissal as to Wager and Cunningham. Wager's only action with respect to Matthes was in his capacity as publisher of the Poughkeepsie Journal when he secured counsel to represent Matthes in connection with the trespass charge. Wager was under no obligation to provide counsel and there were no facts alleged to indicate that Wager had deprived Matthes of any constitutional right. For similar reasons we affirm the dismissal as to defendant Cunningham. Cunningham's only contact with Matthes occurred when Cunningham represented Matthes on the trespass charge. Although the district court generously gave Matthes the opportunity to replead to allege a factual basis for his charges of constitutional violations, Matthes never took advantage of that opportunity. As with Wager, Matthes has failed to allege any factual basis for his allegation that Cunningham deprived him of a constitutional right. Moreover, neither Wager nor Cunningham was witness to or had any prior knowledge of the events of the September 15 meeting--the event that lies at the crux of Matthes's complaint. Under these circumstances we agree that dismissal as to defendants Wager and Cunningham was proper. 10