JONESBORO, Ark. — A conflict on Facebook has led to a lawsuit being filed by an Arkansas lawyer against a Tennessee man who runs a yard sale group for alleged defamation.
Luther Sutter filed the complaint on Wednesday, Jan 15 against Thurstle Mullen in Craighead County Circuit Court, alleging defamation and other harmful statements were made in posts to a Facebook group. The lawsuit seeks compensatory and punitive damages.
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Sutter is an experienced Arkansas lawyer involved in several prominent cases in NEA, notably a fired officer’s lawsuit against Jonesboro in 2024. At one point, he seemed to be on friendly terms with Mullen, a Cordova, Tenn. resident and traveling nurse who owns the Facebook group titled: Jonesboro’s Best Yard Sale and News Site. The group was created as an online yard sale, but over time, Mullen began posting about various news stories. As he will pointedly tell anyone complaining, he owns the group and can do with it as he pleases.
Most of Mullen’s posts originally targeted Heath Loggains, a JPD officer who arrested Mullen for a fight at a club in 2015. In time, his subject material has expanded to include others in law enforcement, prosecutors, and judges. He routinely offers rewards and “bounties” for information leading to the firing or prosecution of alleged corrupt officials.
Mullen seemed to appreciate Sutter’s willingness to represent the underdog in fights with the government, but that all changed when Sutter began representing a Jonesboro couple, Paul and Amber Williams. Paul is also a JPD officer. For months, Mullen posted about the Williams family and their business, Lamb and Lion Childcare. Mullen alleged criminal wrongdoing. Sutter began representing the Williams couple and said he was looking to investigate the allegation.
Screenshots of conversations between Mullen and Sutter show that their relationship quickly deteriorated from there, with Mullen telling Sutter to drop his clients, and alleging that Sutter was being paid with stolen money.
Mullen soon began posting publicly about Sutter, himself.
Initially, Sutter seemed to be amused and even responded with several posts of his own to the group, one of which Mullen said reached around 30,000 people before it was deleted.
The amusement did not last. Tensions boiled over last week, turning amusement into anger, after Mullen replied to a comment by Sutter seeking information in a separate matter.
Sutter made good on his promise to sue Mullen by filing 16JCV-25-76 this week in Craighead County.
In his complaint, Mullen is accused of publicly posting comments accusing Sutter of misrepresenting his fee contract to clients, theft by receiving, other crimes, and even an affair with client “AW.” Sutter alleges these are false and defamatory comments that were published with malice or, at the minimum, reckless disregard for the truth.
“Defendant’s false and defamatory statements have caused substantial harm to Plaintiff’s personal and professional reputation, resulting in emotional distress and economic damages, including loss of business opportunities,” Sutter’s complaint alleges.
The complaint alleges the causes of action are defamation and false light invasion of privacy. It seeks compensatory and punitive damages.
Mullen had no comment when a reporter reached out to him. Court records do not show that he has been served.
Sutter also had no comment when reached by a reporter.
UPDATE 7/17/25:
Facebook Group Shut Down, Counterclaim Filed in Defamation Lawsuit
Correction: An earlier version of this story incorrectly referred to Mullen as a Mississippi resident when he is, in fact, a Tennessee resident.
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Good. He did terrible things to my aunt decades ago when he was her nurse at a local hospital.