Judge will rule whether topless clubs obeying order

Kim Smith

Monday, Jan. 14, 2002 | 9:48 a.m.

District Judge Sally Loehrer will decide Thursday if employees of the topless club Pussycats are guilty of violating her order not to tip cab drivers.

On Jan. 7 the judge found that certain topless clubs have been tipping cab and limo drivers in an effort to divert customers from other clubs. The practice, she said, is illegal and ordered the clubs to stop tipping and drivers to stop accepting tips.

Las Vegas attorney Anthony Sgro, who represents the Olympic Garden, Crazy Horse Too and Club Paradise, filed a motion for contempt of court Friday, alleging Pussycats' employees have been circumventing Loehrer's order and causing his clients to continue to lose thousands of dollars.

On Friday afternoon Sgro showed Loehrer two videotapes purportedly showing the violations during a 90-minute hearing. He then called several Pussycats employees to the stand.

The employees testified the drivers were given free admission tickets on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Hosts of the club then gave customers the option of buying the tickets for $20 to $25 from the cab drivers or paying a $30 cover charge inside the club.

A sign outside the club said Taxi Appreciation Day, and customers were told that since the terrorist attacks Sept. 11 drivers were having a difficult time.

Anthony Pickens, a doormen at Pussycats, testified he knew of only one customer who opted to pay the $30 cover charge.

Keith Schafer, the general manager of Pussycats, acknowledged he and Pussycats owner Ben Cummings spoke about how to get around Loehrer's order.

The average attendance at the club is 130 to 140 people per night, and 75 percent to 80 percent of them arrive by taxi, Schafer said. Each customer spends between $30 and $35 a night.

Pussycats attorney Michael Morey, who told Loehrer the club has not violated her order, has until Wednesday to respond in writing to Sgro's motion for contempt.

The judge will then hear oral arguments Thursday.