Attorneys for the city and county say they've proven Treasures is a public nuisance, insisting the management has allowed drugs and prostitution to exist in the club for years. The suit even claims Treasures allows human trafficking.
One plaintiff's attorney argued, "We have shown ample evidence, your honor, that this is what happens when you go into Treasures. We've shown convictions for prostitution of dancers at Treasures."
They presented evidence of 41 arrests and nine convictions over nearly a four-year period.
That attorney went on to say, "Both arrests and convictions are evidence of knowing toleration of criminal activity."
Treasures argues that it has taken steps to curb crime, maintaining, they say, a zero-tolerance policy for illegal activity. They presented evidence that managers consistently patrol the club looking for sex or drugs. They also make dancers sign forms, saying they know they'll be fired for prostitution or drugs.
Tonya Garrison, attorney for Treasures, said, "They haven't told us what they want. Do they want the VIP rooms closed? Do they want the lights turned on? You could give an order to the judge that they need to have two guys dressed up like chickens with signs that say 'No Prostitutes.' That would be unreasonable."
The judge will decide whether to close Treasures temporarily while the case works its way toward trial. It could be a temporary closure, according to legal documents, of up to one year.
Stay with Eyewitness News and abc13.com for the latest on this story.
(Copyright ©2012 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.) Get more Local »local, kevin quinn
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