Berlin, Adult Novelty Store Face Off In State Supreme Court

BILL LEUKHARDT
Courant Staff Writer

April 15, 2008

Last year, a state Superior Court judge rejected a lawsuit by VIP that challenged the town's sexually oriented business ordinance. VIP still has another state case pending against the town, along with a federal lawsuit.

BERLIN — A court case sparked by the town's battle to keep an adult sex toy, video and "romance shop" from opening in a middle-class neighborhood played out Monday with dry legal arguments in state Supreme Court.

The hearing on "VIP of Berlin LLC v. Town of Berlin et al" was the latest round in a dispute over the legality of the town's ordinance regulating the location of sexually-oriented businesses, including strip clubs and adult novelty stores.

It's an important case to town leaders, who see their ordinance as a way to control the adult businesses that have popped up here in recent years, upsetting residents and giving the town unwanted notoriety

Everyone is holding their breath to see what happens with this case," Mayor Adam Salina said after the hearing. "We feel very strongly that we have every right to enact and enforce this type of ordinance."

"This is going to have far-reaching impact on many municipalities. Freedom of speech and right to privacy are at stake"

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