After 15 Years, Strip Club’s Legal Fight to Open in Broadview Fizzles

(Broadview, IL) ­– Chicago Joe’s Tea Room’s 15 ½ year legal fight to open a strip club in the Village of Broadview, stymied by courts at nearly every turn, has, essentially, come to an end with Broadview agreeing to settle the case.

“Chicago’s Joe’s shadowy group of deep-pocketed owners thought they could bully Broadview, a small town of 7,800 residents, and its elected officials, attempting to wear us down with endless court battles,” said Mayor Katrina Thompson. “Well, they were wrong. Broadview wanted nothing to do with their strip club and we consistently conveyed that message for more than 15 years.”

To avoid the uncertainty and cost of a trial, Broadview’s officials consented on November 10, 2022 to an order issued by federal District Court Judge Matthew Kennelly of the Northern District of Illinois, limiting damages payable to Chicago Joe’s – due to Broadview’s refusal to grant a business license to operate in the village – at $15,111.00, far below the $150 million sought by the strip club’s owners. Judge Kennelly reaffirmed previous court orders limiting damages issued by District Court Judge John Z. Lee over the years.

Chicago Joe’s first filed a lawsuit against the Broadview in 2007 with the intent of opening a strip club after village officials balked at granting a business permit. What followed was 15 ½ years of court battles, the involvement of four different judges, at least 10 law firms, and an appellate court decision that backed a lower court ruling that denied Chicago Joe’s a legal path to open in Broadview.

“Although Chicago Joe’s will likely appeal Judge Kennelly’s decision, the fact remains that an appellate court has already ruled that Chicago Joe’s can never open in Broadview without the consent of the village,” said Thompson. “And we are never going to agree to that.”

Thompson praises work of attorneys.

“Broadview deeply appreciates our relationship with Fornaro Law who loyally and effectively defended Broadview’s interests for 13 ½ years during multiple legal odysseys as well as that of their co-counsel, the Del Galdo Law Group,” said Thompson. “The attorneys worked tirelessly for the Broadview community. We trusted their judgment and we were rewarded with a vigorous, successful defense.”

A tribute to Mark Scarlato.

“I would be remiss if I failed to mention the efforts of attorney Mark Scarlato who passed away on April 15, 2022, and was unable to celebrate this victory,” said Thompson. “Mark tirelessly defended the Village and was one of the main architects of Broadview’s defense, so we would have been hard pressed to achieve our legal victories without Mark.”

davidormsby@davidormsby.com