Follies sues The City of Chamblee over police raid.
shadowcat
Follies, a popular strip club on Buford Highway, is suing the city of Chamblee over what the owners call an illegal late-night raid.
The suit, filed last week in DeKalb County Superior Court, doesn’t dispute that the city’s code allows searches of businesses that serve alcohol. But the club’s owners claim the Feb. 17 raid was excessive because of number of officers used and the disruption to business at 12:45 a.m., which is “peak hours.”
The city police declined to comment because the litigation is pending.
The suit claims officers violated the fourth amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which protects against unreasonable searches and seizures.
“Officers blocked the front and back exits, causing fear and confusion among patrons and employees, especially those customers who wanted or needed to leave,” the suit alleges. “The City’s police cars were stationed outside Follies with blue lights activated. Five or more masked officers entered the club wearing tactical gear including body armor and with holstered weapons.”
No one was able to leave until 2 a.m., when the officers left after confirming all the workers were properly licensed, the suit alleges.
Follies says the officers had no reason to suspect they’d need an “overwhelming police presence” to conduct the search.
The lawsuit points out that the club won a case against DeKalb County for a similar police raid that took place in 2013, before Follies was annexed into the city.
Also in the suit, the club claims it was given no notice that the city had decided this year to rollback last call from 3 a.m. to 2 a.m. from Monday to Saturday.
Follies is seeking damages to be determined at trial and attorney fees.
The suit, filed last week in DeKalb County Superior Court, doesn’t dispute that the city’s code allows searches of businesses that serve alcohol. But the club’s owners claim the Feb. 17 raid was excessive because of number of officers used and the disruption to business at 12:45 a.m., which is “peak hours.”
The city police declined to comment because the litigation is pending.
The suit claims officers violated the fourth amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which protects against unreasonable searches and seizures.
“Officers blocked the front and back exits, causing fear and confusion among patrons and employees, especially those customers who wanted or needed to leave,” the suit alleges. “The City’s police cars were stationed outside Follies with blue lights activated. Five or more masked officers entered the club wearing tactical gear including body armor and with holstered weapons.”
No one was able to leave until 2 a.m., when the officers left after confirming all the workers were properly licensed, the suit alleges.
Follies says the officers had no reason to suspect they’d need an “overwhelming police presence” to conduct the search.
The lawsuit points out that the club won a case against DeKalb County for a similar police raid that took place in 2013, before Follies was annexed into the city.
Also in the suit, the club claims it was given no notice that the city had decided this year to rollback last call from 3 a.m. to 2 a.m. from Monday to Saturday.
Follies is seeking damages to be determined at trial and attorney fees.
Comments
last commentDid the cops find anything significant in the raid?
The owner is a retired attorney that specialized in strip club litigation.
https://www.wigginslawgroup.co…
And the dancer permits is like unconstitutional.
SJG
https://www.wigginslawgroup.co…
SJG
How about the independent contractors?
;-)
SJG
Very hard to make a clean prostitution bust.
SJG
It would be wonderful if this strategy succeeded and was a model for other clubs being harassed. But I doubt it will happen. Most raids turn up some bullshit charges that are enough to justify police action. Plus most club owners would be too scared and too cheap to follow suit.
So I still see this as real bad for that club, escalating a fight which they cannot win.
Jim and Artie Mitchell escalated fights with the City, but they strictly prohibited FS. They were finally able to win a jury acquittal. But very few are that brave, or willing to pay the costs.
I see this Follies situation as far more ominous, more like PP in Greenville SC.
SJG
Next up, increased presence on streets around club and frequent check-ins by patrol "for the safety of the public".
Poor shadow !!!! Hope someone from Follies ownership supports the right candidate in the next election!!!
Unless it was a case if them missing a payment, it is hard to see this lawsuit doing Follies any good. In my opinion, it was a dumb, arrogant move on their part that will bite them in the ass.
I hope I am wrong. Since they are the only club that blatantly gets away with this in Atlanta, they may have made a big mistake. Time will tell.
After this happened, the police have been told not to fuck with our club anymore because it cost the city so much money, presumably. And, they do not fuck with us anymore.