Buck's Racks and Ribs was cited by the Greenville County Sheriff's Office Wednesday.(Photo: Provided) <\/p>\n
A Greenville restaurant that has opened in the location of a former strip clubhas filed a lawsuitagainst the county and the Sheriff's Office, alleging thebusiness's rights to freedom of expression are being violated, according to court documents. <\/p>\n
In a suit filed on May 23, Greenville Bistro and Frontage Road Associates, operator and lesseeof BucksRacks & Ribs, nameGreenville County and Sheriff Will Lewis and allegethe county violated an agreement reached by prior business, Platinum Plus, in 2002 and again in 2015, after owners, Elephant, Inc., filed a suit against the county. <\/p>\n
The parties say in the suit that entertainment provided by Greenville Bistro constitutes free expression protected by the First Amendment. <\/p>\n
The suit statesthat while the restaurant on 805 Frontage Road,hasno affiliation to Elephant, Inc.,itdoespractice a \"similar business\" as the former occupant,and that the county treats the business as a sexual adult establishment. The county is attempting to prevent, \"any form of entertainment or expression at the property\" by issuing citations and violation notices, according to the suit. <\/p>\n
No employee of the current establishment\"appears in a state of nudity,engages in any specified sexual activities, or displays any specified anatomical areas, according to the plaintiffs. <\/p>\n
On Wednesday, the restaurant received three citations from Greenville County deputies after deputies performing a compliance check witnessed someone exposing an unlawfulamount of flesh, said Sgt. Ryan Flood, Sheriff's Officespokesman. <\/p>\n
It was the second time this year, the restauranthas beenissued citations by the Sheriff's Office. <\/p>\n
The plaintiffs are seekinga jury trial and repaymentof attorney fees. <\/p>\n
Bannister, Wyatt & Stalvey, LLC in Greenville,representing the plaintiffscould not be reached for comment. Luke Charles Lirot, out ofClearwater, Florida, is also listed as a co-counsel for the plaintiffs. <\/p>\n
More: Once a strip club, now a restaurant <\/p>\n
Related: Greenville County paid law firm $79K for Platinum Plus litigation <\/p>\n
More: Platinum Plus Greenville ordered to close again <\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Read or Share this story: http:\/\/www.greenvilleonline.com\/story\/news\/crime\/2017\/05\/25\/owners-bucks-racks-ribs-file-1st-amendment-suit-against-county-sheriffs-office\/345573001\/<\/a> <\/p>\n <\/p>\n More: Buck's Racks and Ribs was cited by the Greenville County Sheriff's Office Wednesday.(Photo: Provided) A Greenville restaurant that has opened in the location of a former strip clubhas filed a lawsuitagainst the county and the Sheriff's Office, alleging thebusiness's rights to freedom of expression are being violated, according to court documents. In a suit filed on May 23, Greenville Bistro and Frontage Road Associates, operator and lesseeof BucksRacks & Ribs, nameGreenville County and Sheriff Will Lewis and allegethe county violated an agreement reached by prior business, Platinum Plus, in 2002 and again in 2015, after owners, Elephant, Inc., filed a suit against the county. The parties say in the suit that entertainment provided by Greenville Bistro constitutes free expression protected by the First Amendment Continue reading
\nOwners of Bucks Racks & Ribs file 1st Amendment suit against County, Sheriff's Office - Greenville News<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"