Owners of a Chicago night club have asked a judge to allow the club to remain open while they appeal revocation of their city liquor license.
GT Development Group Inc. filed an administrative review complaint June 29 in Cook County Circuit Court against Mayor Rahm Emanuel; Liquor Control Commissioner Gregory Steadman; Maria Guerra Lapacek, commissioner of the city's Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection; and Robert Nolan, hearing officers for the city's DBACP.
The plaintiff is licensed to sell liquor for retail consumption at 343 W. Erie St., Chicago, the site of the now-closed Board Room night club, and also holds a late-hour license enabling it to sell liquor later than other license-holders.
On Oct. 7, 2014, the defendants issued 18 charges against the plaintiff, setting hearings for Jan. 13, and March 24 and 31, 2015, the lawsuit states, for charges six through 18 (the first five charges were withdrawn).
Among the discipline rendered after the hearings, the lawsuit states, GT's license was revoked for two of the charges, and a $500 fine was levied for five others.
The plaintiff appealed, the lawsuit states, allowing GT Development to remain open pending resolve of the appeal.
Though the establishment closed voluntarily, the lawsuit states, it "intends to reopen and utilize all of its licenses immediately and before any anticipated outcome of the LAC case," since the decision was allegedly "erroneous and contrary to law and its penalty was arbitrary, unreasonable or unrelated to the purposes" of city code.
The plaintiff asks the court to stay the order for the business to close, to continue its complaint until the case is resolved, and to grant any relief it deems "just and proper."
The plaintiff is represented by attorney Daniel B. Rubinow, of Chicago.
Cook County Circuit Court Case No. 2016CH10075.