Love Shack owner charged with contempt

John Cornetta was fined $500, given stern warning
By DOUG NURSE
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Published on: 03/10/08

The owner of the Love Shack has been found in contempt of court for continuing to operate the sexually oriented business in the city of Johns Creek.


Owner John Cornetta was fined $500 and issued a stern warning by the judge: If the Love Shack continues to violate city rules on the sale of adult merchandise, Cornetta could go to jail, the store could be closed and a $3,000-a-day fine could be issued

"There has been a pattern and practice of not complying with this court and other bodies," Fulton County Superior Court Judge Ural Glanville said. "If I tell them not to do it and fine them, and they still do it, then we go to the next step."

The store remained open Monday.

The ruling came Monday afternoon, after city officials claimed Cornetta was violating a court order issued Feb. 28 by Glanville. The judge's earlier written order said Cornetta couldn't operate a sexually oriented business at its Johns Creek location at Jones Bridge and State Bridge roads.

Cornetta was out of the country on vacation and couldn't be reached for comment Monday.

Cary Wiggins, Cornetta's attorney said that the store would try to comply, but said that pending litigation over the same store, filed in federal court in Fulton County, could reshape the whole case.

"We're certainly happy the court recognized what we've been saying for a long time that the Love Shack is an adult business," said Mayor Mike Bodker. "It is yet another victory in a long process." The city has been trying to close the business for about a year.

City officials have argued the site of the Love Shack is not zoned for adult businesses, and that Cornetta needed to move, change his inventory, or close.