Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-arwd-2_05-cv-02136/USCOURTS-arwd-2_05-cv-02136-4/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 440
Nature of Suit: Other Civil Rights
Cause of Action: 42:1983 Civil Rights (Employment Discrimination)

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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

WESTERN DISTRICT OF ARKANSAS

FORT SMITH DIVISION

ROBERT JOHNSON PLAINTIFF

v. Civil No. 05-2136

CITY OF FORT SMITH, ARKANSAS;

THE FORT SMITH AIRPORT COMMISSION;

WILLIAM STRANDELL, individually;

JOHN R. DALLAS, individually;

THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA;

WILLIAM HARDING, individually;

JOHN POLINSKY, JR., individually;

R. MARK HORN, individually;

KENNETH PYLE, individually;

GARY W. CAMPBELL, individually;

COLE GOODMAN, individually;

JERRY R. STEWART, individually;

JOSEPH HERMANN, individually;

RICK DERAMUS, individually, DEFENDANTS

O R D E R

NOW on this 9th day of August, 2006, the above referenced

matter comes on for this Court’s consideration of Separate

Defendant Kenneth Pyle’s Rule 26(c) Motion for Protective Order

Regarding Plaintiff’s FOIA Request (document #69), and the

plaintiff’s response thereto. Having reviewed the pleadings of

the parties, and all other matters of relevance before it, the

Court, being well and sufficiently advised, finds and orders as

follows:

1. Plaintiff Robert A. Johnson filed this action against

the City of Fort Smith, Arkansas, the Fort Smith Airport

Commission, William Strandell, John R. Dallas, the United States

of America, William Harding, John Polinsky, Jr., R. Mark Horn,

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Arkansas Code Annotated 25-19-105(b)(8) exempts from disclosure “[d]ocuments that 1

are protected from disclosure by order or rule of court.” 

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Kenneth Pyle, Gary W. Campbell, Cole Goodman, Jerry R. Stewart,

Joseph Herrmann, and Rick Deramus. Plaintiff’s complaint contains

seven (7) separate counts: breach of contract, intentional

interference with contract or business expectancy, denial of due

process under 42 U.S.C. § 1983, denial of due process under Ark.

Code Ann. § 16-123-105, defamation, civil conspiracy, and age

discrimination under Ark. Code Ann. § 21-3-203. 

2. Various motions to dismiss have been filed by the

defendants. Pending decision with respect to the motions to

dismiss, discovery has not yet begun. 

3. According to the instant motion, the plaintiff has

submitted a request, under the Arkansas Freedom of Information

Act, Arkansas Code Annotated 25-19-101, et seq., for all documents

in the file of Attorney Gregory T. Karber pertaining to his

client, Kenneth Pyle, or any other person or entity named as a

defendant herein. Pyle argues that the plaintiff is attempting to

circumvent orders of this Court and the Federal Rules of Civil

Procedure by prematurely seeking discovery. Pyle asks this Court

to issue a protective order, under Arkansas Code Annotated 25-19-

105(b)(8) , to exempt the requested information from disclosure. 1

The plaintiff opposes the motion, and argues that he is

entitled to the information requested under the Arkansas Freedom

of Information Act. 

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4. The Court finds that the motion should be, and it hereby

is, denied. The Court finds no reason to prevent the plaintiff

from exercising his rights under the Arkansas Freedom of

Information Act, and notes that the Arkansas Courts have

repeatedly upheld the production of litigation files of attorneys

for public officials, employees or agencies. See City of

Fayetteville v. Edmark, 801 S.W.2d 275, 282-83 (Ark. 1990). 

IT IS, THEREFORE, ORDERED that Separate Defendant Kenneth

Pyle’s Rule 26(c) Motion for Protective Order Regarding

Plaintiff’s FOIA Request (document #69) should be, and it hereby

is, denied. 

IT IS SO ORDERED. 

/s/ Jimm Larry Hendren 

JIMM LARRY HENDREN

UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

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