LA HABRA : City Allows Clinic to Stay in Business

The City Council last week allowed an acupressure clinic to remain in business, reversing a ruling by the Planning Commission.

Planning commissioners had revoked Lambert Accu’s permit to operate last month, saying there was “sufficient evidence” that the clinic had violated conditions placed when it first opened last year.

During an inspection in July, police charged Hea Soon Lee, owner of Lambert Accu, with failing to write a customer’s name in her record books.

Eun Soon Na, an employee, was accused of not wearing any clothes while massaging the same client, said Lee’s attorney Joseph T. Vodnoy.

Although the cases are pending in court, Vodnoy said, Lee fired Na despite Na’s claims that she is innocent.

Lee blames the problem on a bookkeeping error and a communication breakdown.

He has worked to correct the situation, said George Grove, another attorney representing Lee.

City Council members unanimously overruled the Planning Commission’s decision, saying the move could save the city money from a lawsuit that Grove threatened to file against the city.

But Councilman Juan M. Garcia said the alleged activities at the clinic two months ago were “totally inappropriate. If it were up to me and my values, I certainly would not vote in favor of the establishment.”

Along with the ruling to keep the clinic open, council members imposed a number of conditions, including requirements that all employees wear clothing while treating clients.

They also must complete 400 hours of classroom instruction and pass written exams before becoming acupressure technicians.