Thursday, May 24, 2012
By Leslie Bridgers lbridgers@pressherald.com
Staff Writer
WESTBROOK — A federal judge has ruled that the city of Westbrook did not violate a strip club owner's Constitutional rights by revoking the occupancy permit for Dreamers Cabaret and subsequently enacting a nude entertainment ordinance.
The ruling was handed down Thursday in U.S. District Court by Magistrate Judge John H. Rich III.
The Ferrante Group Inc., the owner of Dreamers, which sued the city in September 2010, can object to the ruling within 14 days of when it was filed.
Thomas Hallett, attorney for The Ferrante Group, said he would only file an objection if that's what owner Larry Ferrante wanted. Ferrante said today he would not pursue further legal action.
Dreamers Cabaret opened at 84B Warren Ave. in Westbrook on Sept. 17, 2010, as a fully nude strip club. It was shut down the next day by the city for code violations.
The city then enacted an ordinance banning full nudity and alcohol at strip clubs. The club, which fixed its safety problems, could have applied for a change-of-use permit and reopened, but it never did.
Selden Von Herten, the owner of the Warren Avenue building, said about a month ago that people associated with Dreamers were removing items from the club because he was seeking to evict the tenant.
Ferrante said he has had nothing to do with the club for several months.
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