Laff Stop Sues Over Topless-Show Order

Owners of the Laff Stop comedy club, which recently converted to topless entertainment, filed a lawsuit against the county Monday in an effort to remain open.

The county ordered Laff Stop owner Jorn S. Rossi last week to end the topless dance shows, claiming he was in violation of county zoning ordinances. However, Rossi has continued with the topless shows pending the outcome of his lawsuit.

Rossi contends in the suit that county zoning codes do not apply to Santa Ana Heights--an unincorporated area just south of John Wayne Airport--and that adult entertainment at his club is legal. The suit seeks a temporary injunction against the county so that Rossi can continue the topless entertainment.

Deputy County Counsel David Chaffee said he had not received a copy of the lawsuit and declined to comment.

The county had told Rossi last Thursday that because the club is located within 500 feet of a residential area, he needed a permit to conduct adult entertainment.

Bill Grant, section chief for the land use division, gave the club’s attorney, Paul Mast, a copy of the county codes and told him to put an end to the semi-nude dance shows immediately.

However, Rossi’s suit against the county states that the club is not within 500 feet of property “zoned” as residential and is therefore in conformance with county codes.

Mast concedes that the club is located within 500 feet of residential housing. But because the county zoning was repealed by the Board of Supervisors in 1986 and replaced with another set of regulations, the neighborhood is technically not zoned any longer, he said.

Rossi has said that the comedy club at 2122 Bristol St. lost money in the past 18 months and that he switched to topless dancing last week to draw more patrons.

A hearing on the request for a temporary injunction has been scheduled for Feb. 23 in West County Court at 8141 13th St. in Westminster.