PHILADELPHIA – A man who visited a Philadelphia gentlemen’s club and claimed to have been assaulted, beaten and robbed while there has launched legal action against the club and its ownership and operating management companies.
Paul Ricks of Philadelphia filed suit in the Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas on Oct. 16 versus The End Zone, Inc., Rick’s Cabaret International, Inc., RCI Hospitality Holdings, Inc. (collectively doing business as “Club Onyx”) of Philadelphia, Tez Real Estate LP and Tez Management, LLC of Norristown.
The suit states Ricks visited Club Onyx on Sept. 5, 2017 and while in conversation with a friend, was allegedly hit in the back of the head with an unknown object and then attacked by at least seven unknown individuals. This resulted in Ricks suffering a fracture of his right shoulder, a scratched cornea, bleeding from his head and mouth and such other injuries as diagnosed by his medical treatment providers, the suit says.
Ricks also discovered that his basketball jersey was off, his pants were pulled down almost to his knees and his wallet, two cell phones and $800 in cash were all missing – but the club failed to take any action against the assailants or offer him any assistance in locating them, the suit claims.
“Upon information and belief, Club Onyx had a long history of violent incidents committed against patrons, business invitees and customers occurring at or near the business premises and defendants were therefore on notice of the dangers posed to patrons, business invitees and/or customers of Club Onyx," the suit says.
Other prior alleged incidents included: Assault, assault with a gun, unwanted patrons, assault of Club Onyx employees, robbery, trespassing, drunkenness, missing property, vandalism, public complaints, thefts, harassment, loitering and liquor law violations.
In new matter filed Nov. 29, the defendants denied the plaintiffs’ allegations and argued service of the complaint was improper, the parties have no jurisdiction against RCI Hospitality Holdings and the complaint was barred by assumption of risk, the applicable statute of limitations, contributory negligence and other reasons.
The plaintiffs responded to the new matter on Dec. 14, denying the new matter as conclusions of law and demands strict proof of them at trial.
For negligence, the plaintiff is seeking compensatory and punitive damages in excess of $50,000, jointly and severally, plus pre-judgment interest, costs and post-judgment interest, plus such other and further relief as the court may deem just and proper.
The plaintiff is represented by Gregory E. Sciolla and Joana Gaizelyte-Lacy of Leonard Sciolla Hutchison Leonard & Tinari, in Philadelphia.
The defendants are represented by John A. Underwood of Underwood & Micklin, in Cherry Hill, N.J.
Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas case 181002102
From the Pennsylvania Record: Reach Courts Reporter Nicholas Malfitano at nick.malfitano@therecordinc.com