A Jefferson County paving company has filed a lawsuit and is seeking an emergency injunction against County Judge Gerald Robinson, alleging violations of Arkansas procurement laws and the state’s Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) in connection with a county road project.
D & D Paving, Inc., owned by Mike and Carrie Lynn Davis, claims the bidding process for work on Donham and Toler Roads was handled illegally, denying them — and potentially other contractors — the opportunity to submit fair and competitive bids.
Robinson confirmed to Deltaplex News that he has been served with the lawsuit.
According to court documents, the Jefferson County Road Department announced the road project bid on July 28 with a deadline of August 20, 2025. However, D & D Paving says the announcement failed to provide critical information such as road dimensions, materials needed, or scope of work — all required under Arkansas law for projects exceeding $50,000.
Mike Davis told the court he repeatedly called, emailed, and even visited the road department and Robinson’s office asking for the missing details. Despite multiple requests, Davis says no bid specifications were ever provided, leaving his company unable to submit a bid before the August 20 deadline.
On August 20, the county opened bids as scheduled. Court filings indicate Cato’s Trucking, Asphalt & Pavement, Inc. ultimately won the project, though D & D Paving contends the entire process was flawed from the start.
In its complaint, D & D Paving accuses Robinson of violating both Arkansas procurement statutes and the Freedom of Information Act. The company says it requested public records tied to the bidding process — including proof of publication of the bid notice and records of past county contracts awarded to Cato’s Asphalt — but those requests have allegedly gone unanswered.
State law requires public records to be provided within three business days upon request. D & D claims the county’s failure to comply represents a clear breach of FOIA provisions.
Alongside the lawsuit, D & D Paving has filed for a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction to stop work on the Donham and Toler Roads project until the bidding process is re-opened under legal requirements.
In their motion, attorneys for D & D argue the company has suffered “irreparable harm” by being deprived of a fair chance to bid. They also contend the public interest favors transparency and competitive bidding to protect taxpayer dollars.
“The balance of equities favors Plaintiffs,” the motion reads. “Enjoining Defendant from proceeding under an unlawful bidding process preserves the integrity of Arkansas procurement law and prevents further harm, while Defendant suffers no prejudice from complying with statutory requirements.”
The lawsuit asks the court to declare the bidding process illegal, order the county to re-bid the project with proper documentation, and require Judge Robinson to release all requested public records.
A hearing date on the injunction request has not yet been announced.
