Agreement reached in C2K controversy

Kim Smith

Friday, Sept. 22, 2000 | 10:40 a.m.

A tentative agreement has been reached in the controversy that shut down the C2K nightclub at the Venetian hotel-casino three weeks ago.

Attorney Bruce Leslie declined to comment on details of the settlement Thursday, saying only that "we've got an agreement in principal, now we're putting the concept into words."

Leslie said the tentative agreement prompted them to postpone indefinitely the second half of an evidence hearing scheduled for today.

Venetian officials shut down C2K on Aug. 30 after receiving numerous complaints about rampant drug usage, inappropriate sexual behavior and violence.

The owner of C2K, David Horowitz, promptly sued the hotel, claiming its actions were illegal.

Horowitz, through his two companies, Silver Hammer and Sterling Silver of Nevada, paid $5 million to H & H of Nevada to operate the nightclub. H & H had leased the space from the Venetian.

Horowitz's attorneys claimed the Venetian violated his rights because they did not notify him of the eviction. Venetian attorneys claimed they only had to notify H & H.

Leslie represents H & H of Nevada.

The parties began negotiating a settlement one week ago after a Metro Police officer testified in chambers about three days he spent undercover at the club.

According to court transcripts, Officer Todd Raybuck said he saw a great deal of paraphernalia associated with the drug Ecstasy and a number of alleged drug buys.

"It appeared that it was worse at C2K because of the magnitude of the problem, the sheer mass of the people and the fact that it appeared to cater more to that environment than other clubs," Raybuck said.

Raybuck visited the club between July 2 and Aug. 30. On one evening between 3,000 and 4,500 people were in attendance, he said.

Raybuck also testified he saw two people taken out of the club on stretchers, presumably because of drug overdoses.

On Thursday, Venetian attorney Stephen Peek said the resort has not changed its stance on the club.

"We have no desire whatsoever or any inclination to allow Silver Hammer and Sterling Silver to ever come back in and open a nightclub at our hotel-casino," Peek said.