UPDATED: RI Supreme Court Allows Foxy Lady to Reopen—No VIP Area For Now
Friday, January 04, 2019
The Rhode Island Supreme Court granted a stay in the case of the Foxy Lady on Thursday, allowing the club to use its adult entertainment license -- stipulating, however, that the VIP area remain closed, for now.
The Providence Board of License revoked all of the club's licenses in December, following arrests of female employees for solicitation.
See Terms of Stay BELOW
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTThe Supreme Court decision comes after the Department of Business Regulation granted the Foxy Lady a stay for its liquor and retail licenses on December 24.
The club has remained closed since the arrests in November.
On Monday, the Rhode Island ACLU filed a “friend of the court” brief in the RI Supreme Court supporting the Foxy Lady’s effort to maintain its entertainment license pending court review.
The brief argues that the Providence Board of Licenses’ revocation of the Foxy Lady’s entertainment license earlier this month, and the failure to issue a stay of the decision pending full judicial review, violate the First Amendment rights of the club.
“Imagine a symphony orchestra barred by the state from performing again because a musician was found to have sold marijuana to a colleague backstage. Imagine a bookstore being shuttered by the government because peace activists planned acts of civil disobedience in a backroom. Imagine a movie theater permanently closed because an employee assaulted a patron. What the City has actually done to the Foxy Lady is no different. It is a serious attack on First Amendment rights, and we hope the Court will correct this injustice,” said ACLU of RI executive director Steven Brown.
Earlier this month, the club’s licenses to operate were revoked by the Board after undercover officers arrested three female employees for allegedly soliciting for prostitution.
This story was first published 1/3/19 4:21 PM
