Opinion ID: 182452
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Claim Two - Deceit

Text: Mr. Matthews also claimed that he was willfully deceived by LaBarge’s alleged promise of promotion to vice president of operations. He contends that this deceit violated Okla. Stat. tit. 76, § 2, which provides, “One who willfully deceives another, with intent to induce him to alter his position to his injury or risk, is liable for any damage which he thereby suffers.” Because the claim was based on alleged fraudulent or deceptive statements, the district court applied the heightened pleading standard of Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 9(b) and dismissed the claim on the ground that Mr. Matthews did not specify who made the alleged promise, where it was made, or how it was made. On appeal Mr. Matthews does not argue that his second amended complaint sets forth with particularity the circumstances of the alleged deception. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 9(b) (“In alleging fraud or mistake, a party must state with particularity the circumstances constituting fraud or mistake.”); see also United States ex rel. Sikkenga v. Regence Bluecross Blueshield of Utah, 472 F.3d 702, 726–27 (10th Cir. 2006) (Rule 9(b) requires that a plaintiff “set forth the time, place, and contents of the false representation, the identity of the party making the false statements and the consequences thereof.” (internal quotation marks omitted)). Instead, Mr. Matthews refers us to his third amended complaint and -9- asserts that it meets the elevated pleading standard. We have already determined, however, that the district court properly struck the third amended complaint. Moreover, even if we were to consider the new allegations, they fail to satisfy Rule 9(b). Although the third amended complaint, unlike its predecessor, identifies the individual who allegedly promised Mr. Matthews the promotion during an interview, there remains no indication of where this promise was made, the means of communication, or what words conveyed the promise. The allegations regarding the promise might support a contract claim, but they are inadequate for a claim of fraud.