Facebook Group Shut Down, Counterclaim Filed in Defamation Lawsuit

7/27/2025 Update: The saga continues as the group has returned, along with Thurstle’s alias account.

JONESBORO, Ark. — A lawsuit between an Arkansas attorney and the operator of a Facebook group has taken a new turn with the filing of a counterclaim, while the defendant says he has been permanently removed from Meta platforms.

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Luther Sutter, a Little Rock attorney with cases in Northeast Arkansas, sued Thurstle Mullen in January for defamation, alleging the Tennessee man made false statements about him in a Facebook group. Mullen, who operated “Jonesboro’s Best Yard Sale and News Site,” used the group to discuss allegations of public corruption, often targeting law enforcement and officials in Craighead County.

The group, which once had thousands of members, was deactivated after Sutter filed his complaint. Mullen created a second group, but that too was removed. Since then, Mullen said multiple accounts he operated have been suspended. He no longer has access to Facebook or Instagram.

Mullen claims the bans were not coincidental. In his court filings, he alleges Sutter has a contact at Facebook who helped orchestrate the takedowns as a form of censorship.

Read more: Mullen Counter Claim | Letter to the Court

On July 11, Mullen filed a counterclaim naming Sutter, the law firm Sutter & Gillham PLLC, and Meta Platforms as cross-defendants. He alleges defamation, tortious interference with contract rights, conspiracy to defraud, and spoilation (destruction) of evidence.

Mullen describes himself in the filing as a “citizen journalist specializing in investigating claims of government corruption in and around Craighead County, Arkansas.” He lists his residence as Cordova, Tenn., and says he is temporarily living in Marshfield, Wis.

The counterclaim includes broad allegations and requests, including a court order forcing Meta to restore his Facebook groups, profiles, and Messenger messages, and to preserve past content for discovery purposes.

“Mullen has suffered the following damages,” the filing states, “loss of personal and professional reputation; emotional distress, embarrassment, and humiliation; economic damages, including loss of clients and business opportunities.”

Mullen is seeking compensatory and punitive damages and has demanded a jury trial.

Sutter responded by filing a motion to dismiss the counterclaim under Rule 12(b)(6), arguing that it “fails as a matter of law.” He contends Mullen did not adequately plead the terms of any alleged contract, relied on a relationship that was “terminable at will,” and provided “no factual basis for damages.”

Read more: Sutter Response | Motion to Dismiss

The original lawsuit, filed Jan. 15 in Craighead County Circuit Court, remains pending. It accuses Mullen of making false claims about Sutter, including allegations of theft, misconduct in client billing, and an affair with a client—allegations Sutter denies.

No hearing date has been set on the motion to dismiss.