Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-ared-4_15-cv-00497/USCOURTS-ared-4_15-cv-00497-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 440
Nature of Suit: Other Civil Rights
Cause of Action: 42:1983 Civil Rights Act

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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 

EASTERN DISTRICT OF ARKANSAS 

WESTERN DIVISION 

LUKE SKRABLE 

v. No. 4:15-cv-497-DPM 

MARK STODOLA, Little Rock Mayor; 

PLAINTIFF 

BRUCE T. MOORE, Little Rock City Manager; 

TOM CARPENTER, Little Rock City Attorney, 

All Individually and in Their Official Capacities DEFENDANTS 

ORDER 

1. Skrable's motion to proceed in forma pauperis, NQ 1, is granted. He 

says that he has several bills to pay and only makes $400.00 to $500.00 a 

month in his business. Considering Skrable' s responsibilities and income, he 

cannot afford to pay the filing fee. 

2. The Court must screen Skrable' s complaint before ordering service. 

28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2). Construing the complaint liberally, Skrable makes 

several claims. 

Skrable says that Mayor Mark Stodola violated Skrable' s right to free 

speech. Skrable got a "Yellow Citizen Communication Card," which allowed 

him three minutes to speak to Little Rock's Mayor and Board of Directors. NQ 

2 at 1. He claims Mayor Stodola sought to adjourn the forum based on a false 

statement about Skrable, which denied him the right to speak. Id. This is a 

Case 4:15-cv-00497-BD Document 3 Filed 08/20/15 Page 1 of 3
plausible First Amendment claim. 

Skrable also says that Mayor Stodola banned him from all city-owned 

buildings; plus barred him from contact with city employees. NQ 2 at 2. This 

is a plausible Fourteenth Amendment and First Amendment claim. 

Skrable is upset with Little Rock City Attorney Tom Carpenter's 

handling of Skrable' s complaints against the Mayor and the Board of 

Directors for allegedly violating the code of ethics. NQ 2 at 3. If Skrable is 

claiming Carpenter failed to prosecute for these violations, Carpenter is 

immune from suit. Brodnicki v. City of Omaha, 75 F.3d 1261, 1266 (8th Cir. 

1996). If Skrable is making some other claim, he hasn't pleaded enough 

specific facts to show any entitlement to any relief against Carpenter. FED. R. 

Crv. P. 8(a). Skrable' s claims against Carpenter are therefore dismissed 

without prejudice. 

Skrable hasn't stated a claim against Bruce T. Moore. He is therefore 

dismissed without prejudice. 

3. The Court directs the Clerk to prepare summons for Mayor Stodola. 

The United States Marshal shall serve the summons, the complaint, and this 

Order on Mayor Stodola without prepayment of fees and costs or security. 

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Case 4:15-cv-00497-BD Document 3 Filed 08/20/15 Page 2 of 3
So Ordered. 

D.P. Marshall Jr. 

United States District Judge 

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Case 4:15-cv-00497-BD Document 3 Filed 08/20/15 Page 3 of 3