Porter to decide on topless club tipping

Kim Smith

Friday, Jan. 18, 2002 | 9:36 a.m.

District Judge Gene Porter will decide Tuesday if employees of the topless club Pussycats are guilty of violating another judge's order not to tip cab drivers.

On Jan. 7 District Judge Sally Loehrer 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 asking Loehrer to find Pussycats employees in contempt of court.

Sgro alleged his clients continue to lose money because of actions of Pussycats employees.

On Thursday Pussycats attorney Mace Yampolsky asked for another judge to hear the matter because he believes Loehrer violated his clients' due process rights by having a hearing on the matter last week over his objections.

At Tuesday's hearing Yampolsky is expected to argue that Pussycats employees did not violate Loehrer's orders.

Employees testified last week that 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.

According to a motion filed by Yampolsky Wednesday, "the waiving of the admission fee does not constitute an indirect payment to the cab driver because the club never obtained possession of the money, nor does it have a property right to it."