Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-ared-4_23-cv-01192/USCOURTS-ared-4_23-cv-01192-7/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 190
Nature of Suit: Other Contract Actions
Cause of Action: 28:1332 Diversity-Declaratory Judgement

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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 

EASTERN DISTRICT OF ARKANSAS 

CENTRAL DIVISION 

DWBI INVESTMENTS, LLC PLAINTIFF/ 

COUNTER-DEFENDANT 

v. No. 4:23-cv-1192-DPM 

INTERNATIONAL FOOD 

GROUP, L.L.C. 

v. 

SUTTER & GILLHAM, P.L.L.C. 

V. 

TYSON FOODS, INC.; TYSON SALES 

AND DISTRIBUTION, INC.; and 

TYSON FRESH MEATS, INC. 

v. 

DAVID DENNIS; DENNIS FOOD 

GROUP, LLC; LEPHIEW GIN COMP ANY, 

INC.; LEPHIEW DENNINGTON; 

BENJAMIN MCCORKLE; BEACON 

LEGAL GROUP, P.L.L.C.; TIMOTHY 

DUDLEY; RICKEY HICKS; and GARY, 

WILLIAMS, PARENTI, WATSON, GARY 

& GILLESPIE, P.L.L.C. 

DEFENDANT 

DEFENDANT/ 

COUNTER-CLAIMANT/ 

CROSS-CLAIMANT 

DEFENDANTS/ 

CROSS-DEFENDANTS/ 

CROSS-CLAIMANTS 

DEFENDANTS/ 

CROSS-DEFENDANTS 

Case 4:23-cv-01192-DPM Document 132 Filed 11/06/24 Page 1 of 2
ORDER 

1. The motions to amend, Doc. 119 & Doc. 122, are granted. 

Both motions were filed by the Amended Final Scheduling Order's 

20 November 2024 deadline for proposing amended pleadings. Doc. 

103 at 1. And leave to amend should be freely given when justice so 

requ1res. Fed. R. Civ. P. 15(a)(2). Sherman v. Winco Fireworks, Inc., 

532 F.3d 709, 715 (8th Cir. 2008). It does here. The preclusion 

defenses were not available before. 

2. The motion to stay, Doc.125, is denied. The pending appeal 

in state court does not affect the finality of the state trial court's 

judgment for preclusion purposes. John Cheeseman Trucking, Inc. v. 

Pinson, 313 Ark. 632, 636-37, 855 S.W.2d 941, 943 (1993). 

3. That leaves the lingering discovery issues. Rickey Hicks 

has now responded to DWBI's request for admissions. Doc. 131. 

Discovery dispute, Doc. 116, addressed. 

So Ordered. 

D.P. Marshall Jr. 

United States District Judge 

-2-

Case 4:23-cv-01192-DPM Document 132 Filed 11/06/24 Page 2 of 2