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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Outrage at sex shop location

By: Leah Fineran

14Apr08

A CONTROVERSIAL sex shop is set to open less than 10m from a $1 million Varsity Lakes youth skate park.

The Playhouse Adult Store at Burleigh Waters is relocating from a Reedy Creek Road industrial precinct where it operated illegally for three years.

The store, operated by Lucky Bitch Pty Ltd, was forced to move to a retail space after the council last year refused to approve an application to remain in the industrial precinct.

The store's move into a three-storey, mixed-use building at 14 Cassia Drive has sparked outrage from the local community, who say the shop's position will draw 'undesirables' to the residential area and long-awaited multi-purpose youth facility.

The youth park is a joint State Government and Gold Coast City Council project and is expected to open in six weeks, with a BMX track, events stage, skate bowl and public art.

The adult shop's move comes as Acting Premier Paul Lucas last week said the Government would review industry regulations after an adult shop recently opened opposite a Catholic primary school at Proserpine in north Queensland.

The Varsity Lakes location is almost 2km from Marymount College on Reedy Creek Road, but area councillor Jan Grew said an adult shop on Cassia Drive was 'wrong' as it was opposite a youth facility.....

Video store owner demands license!

CLICK HERE to see the LETTER to the Jasper County Commission


Attorney: 'If we've got to go to court, we'll go to court'

The attorney representing the owner of a proposed adult video store said his client is prepared to go to court if Jasper County officials continue to delay approving his business license.

"They send people out to inspect and they say it's fine, then somebody else comes out and says it's not fine," said Joplin attorney William Fleishaker, who represents Ernie Doyon, owner of the proposed Vegas Video store at 1-44 and County Road 100.

“They came out Friday morning and told my guy's clerk that everything was fine and ready to go. Then someone shows up Friday afternoon and says here's this state statute that says you've got to take the doors off the viewing booths. What they're doing is anticipating.....


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