Can strip club owners outspend cities? I hope so.
shadowcat
Atlanta suburb
Brookhaven[GA} strip club battle reveals Sandy Springs costs
The attorney representing the Pink Pony strip club says the City of Brookhaven will face rising legal costs if it continues fighting adult businesses.
Sandy Springs is a cautionary tale for Brookhaven, the attorney says.
Aubrey Villines spoke during the Aug. 13 meeting of the Brookhaven City Council and told council members that since 2009 Sandy Springs spent $164,808 on matters related to litigation with local strip clubs.
Sandy Springs in 2006 adopted an ordinance similar to the one Brookhaven adopted banning alcohol sales in businesses that allow nude dancing. Sandy Springs, like Brookhaven, was sued by local strip clubs. The litigation is ongoing, and in 2011 the city of Sandy Springs sued the strip clubs for alleged violations of city code.
“The Sandy Springs club is still in existence,†Villines told the Brookhaven City Council.
Sandy Springs officials confirmed the dollar amount offered up by Villines, which he obtained via open records requests. City spokeswoman Sharon Kraun said the amount includes fees paid to investigators who looked into activity at places like Flashers.
But the $164,808 figure is likely much higher than that, Villines said, because the litigation goes all the way back to 2006. Villines said he doesn't know why he doesn't have figures before 2009.
“This is what we have as a minimum that's been paid during that time,†Villines said.
Brookhaven, which has declined to comment on pending litigation, already has racked up $40,000 in legal bills on the strip club litigation, according to documents obtained by The Brookhaven Post.
The attorney representing the Pink Pony strip club says the City of Brookhaven will face rising legal costs if it continues fighting adult businesses.
Sandy Springs is a cautionary tale for Brookhaven, the attorney says.
Aubrey Villines spoke during the Aug. 13 meeting of the Brookhaven City Council and told council members that since 2009 Sandy Springs spent $164,808 on matters related to litigation with local strip clubs.
Sandy Springs in 2006 adopted an ordinance similar to the one Brookhaven adopted banning alcohol sales in businesses that allow nude dancing. Sandy Springs, like Brookhaven, was sued by local strip clubs. The litigation is ongoing, and in 2011 the city of Sandy Springs sued the strip clubs for alleged violations of city code.
“The Sandy Springs club is still in existence,†Villines told the Brookhaven City Council.
Sandy Springs officials confirmed the dollar amount offered up by Villines, which he obtained via open records requests. City spokeswoman Sharon Kraun said the amount includes fees paid to investigators who looked into activity at places like Flashers.
But the $164,808 figure is likely much higher than that, Villines said, because the litigation goes all the way back to 2006. Villines said he doesn't know why he doesn't have figures before 2009.
“This is what we have as a minimum that's been paid during that time,†Villines said.
Brookhaven, which has declined to comment on pending litigation, already has racked up $40,000 in legal bills on the strip club litigation, according to documents obtained by The Brookhaven Post.
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