Federal suit against Bull Shoals mayor dropped

A lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court in Fayetteville against Bull Shoals Mayor David Nixon has been dropped. The one-page Motion for Nonsuit document was filed by Benton attorney Luther Sutter on behalf of the plaintiff, Paula Flippin, the owner of a Bull Shoals archery range. Flippin filed the suit Feb. 21 seeking damages exceeding
$75,000.

According to court documents, the lawsuit alleged Mayor Nixon emptied a storage building owned by Flippin and threw away its contents. The suit claimed nearly $50,000 worth of property was destroyed following a dispute over who owned the building. 

Flippin and her now ex-husband, Alvin Dale Flippin, bought property in 2017 that included the River Cliff Golf Course. They proceeded to build and operate an archery range on a portion of the property.

The suit maintained the City of Bull Shoals sublet U.S. Army Corps of Engineers adjoining property to the couple’s. A sublease specified the Flippins were also leasing a storage building on the Corps’ property.

A dispute followed over whether the storage building was on the Corps’ property or on land owned by the Flippins.

The lawsuit went on to say without any notice to the couple Mayor Nixon entered the property in early 2019. He allegedly cut the locks from the storage building and replaced them. He also placed crime scene tape around the perimeter of the structure.

The suit notes the mayor ordered a commercial dumpster be placed next to the building, emptied all of the couple’s personal property into the container and had it removed.

No reason for the dismissal of the suit is given. It notes only the parties will bear their own fees and costs.

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