Академический Документы
Профессиональный Документы
Культура Документы
v.
JOHN G. LARKIN; MICHAEL R.
AZARELA,
Defendants-Appellees,
No. 03-2127
and
RAILWORKS CORPORATION,
Defendant.
COUNSEL
ARGUED: Stuart W. Emmons, FEDERMAN & SHERWOOD,
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, for Appellant. Stewart David Aaron,
KEENEY v. LARKIN
OPINION
PER CURIAM:
Jon Keeney appeals a district court order dismissing his securities
fraud claims against John G. Larkin, the former chairman and chief
executive officer of RailWorks Corporation, pursuant to Federal
Rules of Civil Procedure 9(b) and 12(b)(6) and provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, see 15 U.S.C.A. 78u4(b) (West 1997 & Supp. 2004). We affirm.
I.
RailWorks was formed in 1998 with the intent of becoming a
national provider of integrated rail system services and products,
including the construction and maintenance of rail systems. RailWorks business plan involved the acquisition of companies operating
in complementary areas of the rail industry. From August 1998
through 2000, RailWorks acquired 35 such companies or groups of
companies.
On September 28, 2000, RailWorks issued a press release announcing that its earnings for the year 2000 would be lower than expected
and that the company was implementing a restructuring plan. As a
result of that announcement, shares of RailWorks stock lost 54 per-
KEENEY v. LARKIN
KEENEY v. LARKIN
The district court also ruled that Keeneys claims against Michael R.
Azarela, another former officer of RailWorks, were barred by the statute
of limitations. Keeney does not appeal that ruling.
2
We also reject Keeneys claim that the district court erred in denying
him leave to file a second amended complaint. Although the district court
did not make specific findings on this issue, the record indicates that the
court considered the issue and determined that Keeneys proposed
amendments would be futile. See Johnson v. Oroweat Foods Co., 785
F.2d 503, 509-10 (4th Cir. 1986). We conclude that this decision was not
an abuse of discretion. See Pittston Co. v. United States, 199 F.3d 694,
705 (4th Cir. 1999).