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In March 2014, Larry Ball was first arrested for handing out Christian religious pamphlets outside of the Pinnacle Bank Arena. The pamphlets, designed and produced by Mr. Ball, share what he describes as his life and marriage being saved when he became a Christian four decades ago.  Subsequently, Larry Ball, a 77-year-old Navy Veteran and father of four, had been criminally cited on two additional occasions for the same peaceful expression violating his first amendment rights of free speech and religious liberty.

Since then, Pinnacle Bank Arena management and City officials announced a policy that violates individual free speech rights.  They assert the bulk of the public sidewalk surrounding the Arena is off limits for free speech.  ACLU filed suit in March 2015, as well as an emergency TRO requesting the court grant a temporary order permitting Ball to leaflet in the space.

In April, 2015, the federal court refused to grant the temporary order and the case has been scheduled for trial in July 2016.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Nebraska filed suit in federal court on behalf of Ramon Mendoza alleging that Sarpy County unjustifiably and illegally imprisoned a Nebraska resident for four days simply because local law enforcement officials suspected that the man was here in violation of federal immigration laws. The case was brought by Omaha attorneys Denise Frost and Clarence Mock of the firm Johnson & Mock. 

The ACLU of Nebraska and attorneys Ronald Reagan and Richard Whitworth filed suit in the District Court of Douglas County on behalf of a Middle Eastern man who was pulled over and searched by members of the Douglas County Sheriff’s office.

Michael Omair is an American citizen and a Christian, but he was born in Jordan and his family was Muslim at one time.  He became an American citizen over thirty years ago.  In August 2008, Michael was driving from New York to Colorado to move to a new house and take up a new job in the limousine business when he was stopped by Douglas County Sheriff Deputy Edward Van Buren.

Michael was subjected to hours of questioning about his race and ethnicity. Though Michael is a Christian, a Qu’ran he has had from his childhood was destroyed when the officer tore pages from it. The damage to his car was so severe that the airbags would no longer function.

The lawsuit sought compensation by the Defendants for the damages incurred by Michael and a court order requiring training for the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office to eliminate profiling.

The case was dismissed in March 2017.