Wednesday, July 21, 1999
City cleared in nightclub lawsuit
No racial bias, jurors decide
BY ERIN GIBSON
The Cincinnati Enquirer
The city of Cincinnati was cleared Tuesday of racial discrimination charges stemming from a lawsuit filed in 1994 by the owner of a Short Vine nightclub.
Danny Asher, former owner of Prime Time nightclub, had filed the suit in Hamilton County Common Pleas Court alleging the city and police discriminated against his customers, most of whom were black.
Mr. Asher has said discrimination included overly stringent policing and the city's denying him a dance club permit because of perceived problems on Short Vine.
Although they did not think the city was negligent or had condoned discrimination, jurors said in an after-trial discussion that they thought police officers had practiced it, said William B. Singer, attorney for the plaintiff.
“They didn't want the city to feel they were off scot-free,” Mr. Singer said.
The Prime Time nightclub, 2505 Vine St., closed in 1995 after the city refused to renew its liquor license. In 1994, the city had refused to renew the club's dance hall license — the impetus for Mr. Asher's lawsuit.
Police officers testified at public hearings soon afterward that fighting was common outside the club after its 2 a.m. closing. They said club customers loitered outside until police forced them to leave.
Some officers stationed across the street from the club were dressed in riot gear.
Twenty-four-hour businesses near the club, including Kroger and Super K, reported in 1995 that they locked their doors when the club closed to keep out drunk and rowdy patrons.
The club was frequented by white customers until Mr. Asher bought and renamed it in 1990. Mr. Singer said problems between the club, the police and the city arose in 1993.
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