Bikini Bar

Tampa, FL: (Sep-21-07) A lawsuit was brought against Hillsborough County alleging that the county prevented the opening of a club owned by Gemini Property Ventures. Gemini, which sued the county in November 2005, alleged it "maliciously and intentionally" manipulated procedures and county employees to try to keep the club from opening. Part of the case focused on actions taken by then-County Commissioner Ronda Storms before the Showgirls bikini bar opened its doors. Storms was accused of asking county workers to delay issuing a certificate of occupancy for the club, preventing its opening. She was later cleared of wrongdoing by the State Attorney's Office and Florida Commission on Ethics.

Showgirls eventually opened in February 2006 after a federal magistrate judge ruled that the bar's dancers deserved First Amendment protection. In a settlement reached, the County will pay Gemini Property Ventures about $49,000 to settle the nearly two-year-old lawsuit. Sources state that the case was settled, in part, so Gemini could devote full attention to another lawsuit against the county over ordinances governing sexually oriented businesses. In its pending lawsuit, Gemini argues that three county ordinances governing sexually oriented business are unconstitutional and violate the owners' First Amendment rights. [TAMPA TRIBUNE: BIKINI BAR]

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Published on Sep-23-07