‘knowingly and intentionally committed an act in conscious disregard for the rights of others.’ ” Beuster, 435 F.Supp.2d at 479 (quoting Wiggins v. Equifax Servs., Inc., 848 F.Supp. 213, 219 (D.D.C.1993)). As for malice, “Plaintiff must allege that a defendant published material while entertaining serious doubts as to the truth of the publication or with a high degree of awareness of probable falsity [or actual knowledge of falsity].” Id. at 480 (citing Foretich v. Capital Cities/ABC, Inc., 37 F.3d 1541,1551 n. 8 (4th Cir.1994)). Pursuant to Rule 9(b), “malice, intent, knowledge, and other , condition of mind of a person may be averred generally.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 9(b); see Beuster, 435 F.Supp.2d at 480 (citing Rule 9(b); Hatfill v. N.Y. Times Co., 416 F.3d 320, 329 (4th Cir.2005)) (<HOLDING>). Magruder claims that Educational Credit
holding that heightened pleading standards do not apply to defamation actions holding that a court may not apply a heightened pleading standard more stringent than the usual pleading requirements of rule 8 in civil rights cases alleging municipal liability under  1983 holding that heightened pleading standards of fed rcivp 9b apply to fraud elements of rico claim holding that the federal false claims act is an antifraud statute to which rule 9bs heightened pleading requirements apply holding that the fact that federal rule of civil procedure 9b requires a heightened pleading standard for some claims but not for a section 1983 claim against a municipality means that the rules do not require a heightened pleading standard for such a claim