The owner of a Cambria County strip club is planning on filing a federal lawsuit against Portage Borough and several officials.
According to Gary Vaughn, the owner of Bodies in Motion, he is asking for $1 million from each of 11 defendants listed in the lawsuit that mentions three ordinances in Portage that Vaughn claims are unconstitutional.
“I believe that all 11 are responsible for violating constitutional rights of not only mine but anybody who lives in this borough,” Vaughn said.
Included in the potential defendants are Portage Borough itself, its mayor, borough manager, the chief of police, two police officers, and five members of council.
“Several months ago, when I opened up my lounge here, I put the borough on notice, the council members on notice of that issue and asked them that they at least look into getting them either revised, adopted, or repealed,” Vaughn said. “They haven't done that.”
Vaughn says he has not been given a citation for violating one of the ordinances but is looking to make sure he cannot be given one in the future.
This comes about three weeks after a heavy police presence was at the exotic dance club along Main Street.
There was an investigation lasting months according to authorities. Online court records show Vaughn has been charged for serving alcohol to minors.
Fox says he is not going to comment and will wait for the matter to be solved in court.
Borough council member Dave Hayes says he believes council is exempt from civil lawsuits if it takes the advice of the borough solicitor, and claims they are taking that advice.
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