Legal Question in Civil Rights Law in Louisiana

Refusing to Serve

Is it legal for a Cocktail Lounge to refuse to allow someone entrance for no reason other than the fact that there ex-wife and her new boy friend have the amusement machines located there and they simply do not want him to be allowed? When first went there, explained who I was to the owners and that we were not looking for problems or trouble, and if it was a problem, that we would leave. We were assured that there was no problem because the place was owned by someone different. The following week when we went inside, after paying the cover charge, we didn't even have time to be seated when we were approached by security telling us that we had to leave. When asked why because we had already spoken to the owners, we were simply told that we were not allowed there. Is this Legal?


Asked on 3/30/04, 3:52 am

2 Answers from Attorneys
Nick Pizzolatto, Jr. Pizzolatto Law Office

Re: Refusing to Serve

Find another hangout....

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Answered on 3/30/04, 8:13 am
Hardy Parkerson Retired Attorney; now Law Professor

Re: Refusing to Serve

Dear LawGuru Freind,

From the facts given, unless you can prove you are being denied admission to the club because of some protected civil right to be there, then my thinking is that the club is private property and the owner has the right to admit or deny anyone access the premises. It looks to me as if there may be a failure of communications between the owner who told you it was OK for you to go there and the security person (bouncer) who told you you were not welcome there. Of course, if the place happened to be owned by the government or some arm of the government, then things would be different; but I assume the club is just a private club. Wish I could offer you some more encouraging answer and could offer to you some legal remedy to correct this unfair situation, but it looks like I can't. I am a big believer that for every unfairness the law lends a remedy to right the wrong being done, and it is just up to a good lawyer to find that remedy and take action to right the wrong that has been done; but in your case, I am going to have to give it some more thought. Any chance you slipped down and fell in the restroom and injured yourself when you were there? You know those restrooms in private clubs are notoriously slippery and slimy. (Humor intended!) Best of luck!

Sincerely,

Hardy Parkerson, Atty.

Lake Charles, LA

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Answered on 3/30/04, 8:57 pm


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