San Joaquin supervisors to consider $75,000 settlement for Lockeford bar owner

San Joaquin County could pay a $75,000 settlement to Lockeford nightclub owner Timothy Kruppe to avoid having to fight Kruppe's First Amendment lawsuit.

The Board of Supervisors is scheduled to vote on the settlement at its meeting today.

Kruppe, former owner of two adult businesses in Lodi, opened On the Beach in April on Highway 88 in Lockeford. The nightclub featured bikini-clad dancers and offered lap dances in a private area, but closed its doors on Aug. 25, only to open two days later as a cowboy bar.

Kruppe filed a $5 million lawsuit on Feb. 29 in U.S. District Court, saying the county violated his free-speech rights under the First Amendment by creating too many obstacles for him to open his bar.

Assistant County Counsel Mark Myles said the federal court might award Kruppe some money for attorney fees anyway, so it's in the county's best interest to settle and not risk a higher award by the court and more court costs. Myles said that $75,000 might be a reasonable award by the court.

"After analyzing the facts, the statute and case law, it is county counsel's opinion that the court will award some amount of attorney's fees to Kruppe and that the recommended settlement is a a reasonable award of such fees," Myles wrote in his report.

If the Board of Supervisors approves the settlement, the county would also waive $3,303 in fees for an entertainment permit application.

Timothy Kruppe case at a glance

Feb. 29: Filed $5 million lawsuit against San Joaquin County in U.S. District Court, alleging that the county violated his freedom of speech.

April 25: On the Beach opens its doors on Highway 88 in Lockeford.

Aug. 4: Final lap dance after Kruppe voluntarily agrees to end the service.

Aug. 26: On the Beach closes its doors, ending bikini dancing.

Aug. 28: Remodeled nightclub, called Gone Country, opens at the same location. Kruppe retains a financial interest, but is not involved in day-to-day operations.

Sept. 9: San Joaquin County Board of Supervisors to consider $75,000 settlement with Kruppe.

— News-Sentinel staff

Board of Supervisors meeting

Today's board meeting will begin at 9 a.m. in the county courthouse, 222 E. Weber Ave., seventh floor, Stockton.

Contact reporter Ross Farrow at rossf@lodinews.com.

Reader Feedback

dogbark wrote on Sep 11, 2008 9:59 PM:

" $75K???
Why I'll lap dance you for an even $35k.
No kissing though, I got standards. "

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WY wrote on Sep 9, 2008 9:05 PM:

" He'll have to answer to his maker. What a big man he is. He must feel warm and fuzzy inside stealing from everyone around him. I wonder if he likes being hated by everyone. What a sick pig "

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WOWerzz wrote on Sep 9, 2008 4:48 PM:

" DON'T PAY HIM A DIME...FIGHT HIM IN COURT...but it's kind of stranger how the county is willing to pay him money before anything started...shows that the county might have played a game or 2 with this pervert! "

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dogs4you wrote on Sep 9, 2008 2:57 PM:

" Without a doubt, this jerk is going to try something like this again, one way to shut him down and the 1st admendment be damned, refuse him a liquor licence. "

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judy wrote on Sep 9, 2008 11:23 AM:

" This truly is unbelieveable......and a sad commentary on what people have become in this country. To some, greed is everything - they choose to ignore the difference between right and wrong and will do whatever they need to do to get the almighty dollar. "

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Oh Bull wrote on Sep 9, 2008 11:00 AM:

" Unbelieveable ! bet there is still illegal stuff going on at this bar. What did they do board up those private rooms. $75k and them they cut funding to our schools ? gotta wonder "

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Lodian wrote on Sep 9, 2008 10:42 AM:

" This guy just continues to ooze slime wherever he goes. He needs to be stopped, not paid. "

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taNdc wrote on Sep 9, 2008 10:40 AM:

" Mr. Kruppe has figured out how to play the system and win without incriminating himself. It has the same looks as the scheme being played out right now by Dale Gillespie and his third major change to his development trying to use the original environmental impact report and bring more pollution, noise, traffic than was originally approved. Where's the outrage here?
Opps, I forgot, the good ol' boys have their own rules they play by and the planning commission is afraid of them and can;t say no. "

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wtf wrote on Sep 9, 2008 9:02 AM:

" It does seem that Kruppe was harassed by the county; but what bothered me was when he was getting ready to close that business down, there was mention of total nudity in the VIP room.

I don't care if the girls wanted to run around in their birthday suits; but there was never any mention, as far as I know, of total nudity mentioned when the debate was on regarding him opening in the first place.

This, to me, smacks of dishonesty on Kruppe's part and, in a sense, if it was not in the paperwork he filed with the county, it could be construed as a breach of contract. "

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deblaw wrote on Sep 9, 2008 8:29 AM:

" It is not every day that the county writes out a $75k check to put something to rest before it even gets started??? "

There is more to it than the county is admitting! "

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joesr wrote on Sep 9, 2008 8:20 AM:

" Interesting business model, attempt to open a sex business in a rural, conservative town and then sue the county for giving you grief. You have to commend him on his legal guidance. It is not every day that the county writes out a $75k check to put something to rest before it even gets started??? "

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