Court Reinstates Order to Ban Nude Dancing at Club

An appellate court Wednesday reinstated a restraining order prohibiting nude dancing at the Extasy club in Northridge, the latest twist in a long-running battle between club owners and city officials over nude dancing at the former seafood restaurant.

After reviewing an appeal filed by the city attorney’s office, the court reinstated an earlier restraining order “pending further order of this court.”

Councilman Hal Bernson, who has spearheaded the drive against the club, “was pleased with the action of the court of appeals,” said Ali Sar, a Bernson aide.

“We hope to keep the temporary restraining order in place pending the resolution of the zoning violation case tried in court,” Sar said.

To have the restraining order lifted, club owners would have to appeal to the California Supreme Court, said Ted Goldstein, spokesman for the city attorney.

But John H. Weston, an attorney representing the club, said he will ask the state Court of Appeal to reconsider and lift the restraining order.

In January, a Los Angeles Superior Court judge ordered the club to stop offering nude or striptease dancing until a hearing on the zoning issue. But last month, Superior Court Judge Ronald M. Sohigian decided against extending the restraining order because it would result “in the imminent destruction of the defendant’s business.”

The Extasy club has been at the center of controversy and legal battles since it opened in January. Bernson and others opposed to the club argue that it violates zoning laws.

Owners say they obtained the proper permits from the city before opening the club.

“We were quite dismayed and surprised to receive the order from the court of appeals reinstating what we clearly felt was the most inappropriate and legally unsupportable temporary restraining order,” Weston said.

Weston said his “clients applied for a permit and fully disclosed that they intended to offer adult nude entertainment.”

The city granted them the cafe entertainment shows permit, then later sought to prohibit nude dancing.

“We’re confident that when the true facts get before the court, the court will recognize that this is inappropriate for a restraining order and will vacate it,” Weston said.