As previously reported, last month the Honorable Dominic Lanza—the judge assigned to the action Allen Skillicorn v. Ginny Dickey et al.—issued a tentative ruling, finding that under established Supreme Court precedent, the Town Council had the right to censure and discipline Skillicorn. In an order dated August 29, 2024, Judge Lanza issued a final order denying Skillicorn’s Motion for a Preliminary Injunction. The final order should effectively conclude the litigation.
In his lawsuit Skillicorn asked the Court to issue an order compelling the Town to remove the following sanctions imposed by the Town Council:
- Skillicorn cannot hold the position of Vice Mayor;
- The Town will not pay for any of Skillicorn’s travel expenses incurred on Town business;
- Skillicorn cannot interact with Town employees or staff unless another person is present; and
- Skillicorn must apologize to Peter Lucchese, the Town Code Enforcement officer he assaulted and subsequently described as a “sign thief.”
In the final order Judge Lanza again expressly rejected Skillicorn’s claim that the imposition of sanctions violated his First Amendment rights. The Judge also found that Skillicorn’s claims against Mayor Dickey, Vice Mayor Kalivianakis and Councilmembers McMahon and Grzybowski (all of whom voted to impose the sanctions) were barred by the Doctrine of Legislative Immunity.
For months, Skillicorn has boasted that this lawsuit would expose “corruption” on the part of Fountain Hills’ elected representatives while soliciting for money to support his lawsuit against the Town. Skillicorn has claimed on his social media accounts and through the publication of orchestrated “fake news” reports on far-right media that he has been persecuted “due to his conservatism.” Skillicorn also claims that he was unfairly “disciplined” for “confronting a town employee who was stealing one of his signs,’ and for “questioning other Council members over voting issues regarding developers who had contributed to their campaigns.”
Even after the tentative ruling finding that his claims were without merit, Skillicorn has brazenly persisted in repeating the ridiculous, false claim that the sign was “stolen,” when he knows that the sign was lawfully removed. Recently, Skillicorn has doubled down on his false allegations of “corruption” by posting a claim (with no evidentiary support) that unidentified Council members actually received campaign contributions from the developers of the Four Peaks Project development.
Skillicorn’s Malevolence Knows No Bounds.
Against this backdrop #GerryFriedel, who aspires to be our leader and claims that he “loves” Fountain Hills and values its employees, says nothing to defend the reputation of the Town, his colleagues on the Town Council, or its employees against Skillicorn’s unfounded attacks.
If Friedel is elected in November we can expect him to support removing the sanctions against Skillicorn. The sanctions that Friedel was too cowardly to support have, if nothing else, protected employees and staff from further abuse. Friedel as mayor is likely to support lifting the sanctions and then watch passively as Skillicorn resumes his reign of chaos and anarchy: abusing staff and employees; attacking the Town’s teachers and librarians; and impugning the honesty and integrity of those he views as his political enemies. Friedel feels no obligation to protect anyone but himself.
Based on the final order on the preliminary injunction Skillicorn and his attorney, Timothy LaSota, should voluntarily dismiss the lawsuit. The Judge has determined that Skillicorn is not entitled to an order compelling the Town Council to remove the sanctions because they were legally justified. Applying the same reasoning, the Court would not allow a jury to consider Skillicorn’s ridiculous claim that he is entitled to damages from the Town or the individual defendants.
When the action is voluntarily dismissed don’t expect Skillicorn to hold a press conference acknowledging that his claims were found to be meritless by a federal judge appointed by his idol, Donald Trump. Skillicorn will slither away to another dark corner where he will circulate more rumors, invent more scandals, and cause irreparable damage to #FountainHills and the people who live here. If Gerry Friedel is elected as mayor there will be no one to stop him.