Good Night Mr. Lewis: New York Clubs Filing Massive Corruption Lawsuits vs. NYPD

For the last few months, I've been writing about what seemed to be extremely shady practices used by the New York Police Department in a senseless attack on licensed premises. Now comes word of “multiple, massive lawsuits” about to be filed against the NYPD by several clubs, including at least two major west-side venues. The suits specifically charge the “vice squad” with illegal activity against these venues. The suits will reportedly be in the tens of millions of dollars range. The lawsuits cite papers, which have been read to me, that tell of alleged “pre-arranged drug sales made by undercover cops from drug dealers that have [allegedly] been told to be at specific clubs at specific times.” These drug dealers are allegedly then busted, and the incident is used to close the clubs under a nuisance abatement act. Seven or more clubs have reportedly been closed improperly via this alleged practice. It seems that the act was meant for unlicensed premises, not those with licenses like clubs and bars. Typically these papers are served on a Friday after courts are closed so that the nightclubs are shuttered for the weekend; come Monday morning, a judge has ordered the closing overturned in every single case.

This, according to one club owner, represents a violation of his due process, since the club is penalized tens of thousands of dollars or more without benefit of a proper hearing. Owners are talking corruption, and they intend to prove that the cops are not just making mistakes but are acting illegally. The suit will reportedly seek damages for “ruining lives and business.” As the case is supposedly to be filed “within weeks,” there’s much information not presently available to me. It has been implied that “links to big real estate” are at the core of the matter, and that “people will be talking as subpoenas are served.” How big this lawsuit becomes depends on how many clubs sign on. It seems that as many as three or four are already involved, with many high-powered lawyers already reportedly on board.

There has never been a time that clubs are as well-run as they are today. Each night, with very few exceptions, the clubs are fun, safe, and filled with thousands of New Yorkers and visitors. As I mentioned in a previous column, over 65 million people a year enjoy clubs in this city—yet for a number of years, the NYPD has set its sights set on closing them down. Clubs are held to a ridiculous standard, even if the cops were not allegedly bringing in their own dealers. Think about how many other places that attract thousands of people and yet are truly drug-free? Drugs are consumed and sold at schools, churches, Madison Square Garden, department stores, and sports events. It’s never been suggested that these places be shut down. Drugs are sold in prisons despite state-of-the-art methods to prevent such sale. How can a club be held to a higher standard than any other institution? How can a club—short of having drug-sniffing dogs at the entrance—prevent people from pursuing this vice? And it only gets harder if the vice squad is pursuing them. As they say: Developing.