Fla. Strip Bar Lawsuit Going to Mediation

DESTIN, Fla. — The ongoing dispute between the city of Destin and the Oasis pool hall about nude dancing is going to arbitration by court order.

Terry Stephenson, who leases the Oasis, filed suit in federal court last November after Destin turned down his request for a business license to provide nude dancing. Destin City Manager Greg Kisela told reporters that the court has ordered the two sides into mediation, which is expected in late June.

Nude and topless dancing were completely banned in Destin and adult entertainment was restricted to the city's industrial zoned areas. Facing fears of constitutional challenges, the city passed a new ordinance in January regulating strip clubs and other "sexually oriented businesses" such as adult video stores, adult bookstores and "sexual device shops."

The ordinance requires the owner and staff of sexually oriented businesses to take out city licenses; prohibits nudity; allows semi-nudity if performers are at least six feet from the customers; bans alcohol from the premises; and limits the hours from 10 a.m. to 1 a.m.

In February, Stephenson's attorney, Greg Edinger, filed an injunction against the new ordinance, charging that it violated the 1st Amendment and that the city's legal advertising for the hearings didn't follow Florida law. Although the city disagreed, it repeated the ordinance approval process with new legal ads and revised definitions.

Even without the ordinance, the Oasis is not legally zoned to offer nude dancing, and Stephenson's lawsuit challenges that position too.

In court filings, the Oasis' attorneys admitted the club already has occasional nude dancing, which could lead to a citation if the dancers were caught in the act.

Code Enforcement Director David Bazylak said that officers and sheriff's deputies have been visiting the Oasis several times a week but "the times Code Enforcement has been in there, we have not seen them doing that."

Kisela said that even though the city has to meet with Stephenson and his attorneys, it won't change its position. "We'll listen [but] we're still committed to the regulatory ordinance. We're not deviating from that at all."

Edinger said Stephenson's position that the denial of a business license unfairly infringes on his rights has not changed either, but "I'm always optimistic going into mediation. I've settled most of these cases."

Related:  

Copyright © 2025 Adnet Media. All Rights Reserved. XBIZ is a trademark of Adnet Media.
Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission is prohibited.

More News

Blush Introduces 'Splash' Vibe

Blush has debuted its new duck-themed Splash vibrator.

SVibe Debuts 2 New Vibrators

SVibe has introduced two new vibrators.

JuicyAds Wins Trademark Infringement Case Against Fraudulent Domain

JuicyAds has won its World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) case against a website using a similar domain to impersonate the company's site and defraud customers.

ProDx Health Introduces 'Power Femme' Test

ProDx Health has introduced its new Power Femme Home Collection Kit.

Orion Expands Cottelli 'Accessoires' Line

Orion Wholesale has introduced five new “It” pieces from its Cottelli Accessoires line.

ANME Wraps With Product Drops and Partnerships

ANME wrapped on Wednesday, the event’s third day, after delivering a mix of product launches, power meetings and networking — all while preserving the laid-back vibe that attendees say always makes ANME feel like a homecoming.

Playharda Wholesale, Secret Dome Ink U.K. Distro Deal

Playharda Wholesale and BDSM brand Secret Dome have signed a deal for UK distribution.

Hankey's Toys Releases 'Kitsune's Knot' Dildo

Mr. Hankey's Toys has introduced its new Kitsune’s Knot dildo.

France Reinstates Age Verification Rule for EU Sites

France’s highest court, the Council of State, on Tuesday reinstated age verification rules for EU-based sites under the country’s Security and Regulation of the Digital Space (SREN) law, ruling in favor of the French government and against Hammy Media.

Velvet Thruster Signs Distro Deal With ECN

Velvet Thruster has inked a distribution deal with East Coast News (ECN).

Show More