CHICAGO – Two adult businesses were fined over $200,000 each in separate rulings by a Lake County judge for violating a county law regulating such establishments.
According to a report by the Chicago Tribune, Circuit Judge Margaret Mullen charged George Stamatopolous, owner of Video Magic, and Danny Christofalos, owner of Baby Dolls with never obtaining licenses for their businesses. The county’s current ordinance requires adult-oriented businesses obtain a license and follow certain regulations.
The pair of businesses, along with a third, Dancers, were at the culmination of a five-year lawsuit against the county, alleging its adult ordinance was unconstitutional. After Lake County and Illinois Appellate Court judges upheld the 1998 ordinance, the businesses were unsuccessful with having their case heard at the Supreme Court level.
Mullen fined Video Magic and Baby Dolls $500 a day for 409 days — from May 15, 2006, the day the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear the appeal, to June 28, when she ordered their doors shut for noncompliance.
“It's a very good outcome,” Assistant State's Attorney, Dan Jasica, who argued the case for the county, told the Tribune. “It's been a long time coming, and we will now pursue collections.”
The businesses will likely appeal the ruling.
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