Opinion ID: 781506
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: The CNN broadcast

Text: 27 Van Buskirk argues the district court improperly considered the transcript of the CNN broadcast on a Rule 12(b)(6) motion to dismiss because the CNN broadcast is not integral to his complaint. Van Buskirk reaches this conclusion based on the submission of a transcript of the CNN broadcast to the district court by Appellees, and the failure of the district court to state flat out that it had not considered the transcript. We find no evidence in the record to support Van Buskirk's conclusion that the district court improperly considered the transcript. 28 In dismissing the complaint, the district court noted Appellees attached a copy of the CNN broadcast to their motion to dismiss. Van Buskirk, 2000 WL 1206732, at  n. 2. The district court discussed Van Buskirk's objection to the submission, noting Van Buskirk argues that the district court must either disregard the transcript as a matter outside the pleadings or convert the defendants' motion to one for summary judgment, in which case, Van Buskirk contends he should first be entitled to conduct discovery. Id. The district court went on to state: 29 I have two options: I may either disregard the transcript, or give the parties notice that the motion is be[ing] converted and permit the parties to submit evidence accordingly. Because it is possible to dismiss Van Buskirk's defamation claim without referring to the transcript, it will be disregarded. 30 ... 31 ... Because Van Buskirk's claim has been dismissed for failing to plead a plausible defamatory meaning, it is not necessary to consider the CNN transcript. Thus, there is no need to decide whether the transcript could have been considered.... 32 Id. (citations omitted). It is clear the district court recognized a dispute between the parties regarding the admission of the transcript. It is also clear that the district court did not consider the transcript in reaching its conclusion that the statements at issue were not susceptible to a defamatory meeting. We further note this court did not consider the transcript in reaching our decision.