Utopia put on probation for allowing racy party

Adrienne Packer

Wednesday, Nov. 3, 1999 | 9:43 a.m.

Club Utopia was slapped with probation Tuesday, nine months after Clark County inspectors raided its "Nymphomaniacs Ball" to discover women dancing naked in cages and performing sex acts.

David Cohen, owner of the Las Vegas Strip business, apologized to Clark County commissioners Tuesday and promised he will ensure county laws are followed in the future.

"From the time the complaint was filed, we have taken extreme measures to make sure this will not happen again," Cohen said.

Commissioners agreed with the Business Licensing Department's request to issue Club Utopia a two-year limited license, which means it must abide by strict conditions or face disciplinary action by the district attorney's office.

For two years Club Utopia must submit monthly progress reports to the county that describe the status of its security and crisis management training. It must also inform the county if it drops its new security company or its consultants.

Club Utopia landed in trouble last January when it leased its club out for the second annual Nymphomaniacs Ball. The party started after the Consumer Electronics Show and quickly became uncontrollable.

Cohen said 1,800 guests showed up and it was impossible to monitor everyone's behavior.

According to a county report, customers snapped pictures of nude dancers performing sex acts.

Security guards who were watching the show initially kept inspectors with the county's business license division away from the scene, county reports say.

While Club Utopia has a liquor license, it does not hold permits that would allow erotic dancing or adult cabaret entertainment.

Cohen said he regretted leasing the property out for the Nymphomaniacs Ball.

"I regret it happened," he said. "My judgment wasn't what is best for the club or the reputation of this city."

On Tuesday Club Utopia attorney Mark Fiorentino likened the sex show to a recent incident at Delmonico Steakhouse in the Venetian hotel-casino. He unsuccessfully lobbied the board to reduce the limited license to one year -- the penalty extended to Delmonico.

But Commissioner Erin Kenny quickly ended the discussion, saying it is unfair to compare what happened at Emeril Legasse's restaurant to the party at Club Utopia.

Legasse was forced to appear before the commission in August after in incident involving "Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous" host Robin Leach. According to the county, Leach's five women dinner guests began stripping in the restaurant after dinner.

"Although they were sexual in content, these were two totally different things," Kenny said.