SARASOTA, Fla. (AP) — Sarasota County commissioners voted unanimously to reject a claim from a strip club that sought more than $5 million in losses as a result of the county's rules against nudity.
The owners of the Cheetah Lounge demanded compensation through the so-called "Harris Act." The law allows private businesses to sue governments over regulations that diminish property values.
The owners say the small beige patches now required to cover dancers' nipples and the Sarasota County-mandated separation between them and their customers has cost the business $5.1 million.
The Herald-Tribune (http://bit.ly/1zkASbw) reports that it's the latest twist in a legal rift that dates back 18 years between the county and the club. Officials say it has refused to comply with ordinances that ban strippers from touching customers or baring too much.
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Information from: Sarasota (Fla.) Herald-Tribune, http://www.heraldtribune.com
