Source: Love Shack
By: Company Press Release
(JONNS CREEK, GA) — In an irony of all ironies, the Love Shack located in Johns Creek is set to celebrate its one-year anniversary on the same day that the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals will hear oral arguments by Love Shack attorneys H. Louis Sirkin and Cary Wiggins, as well as from Fulton County attorney Steve Rosenberg.
Exactly one year ago, Wednesday, Nov. 29, 2006, Love Shack owner John Cornetta defiantly opened the doors to his newest store in then Fulton County, Georgia. www.loveshackonline.com/news8.html
Prior to opening, Cornetta filed suit against Fulton County in Us Federal Court for the Northern District of Georgia.
Cornetta has always maintained that the store would have less then 25% adult material, which is allowed under Fulton County law. However, the very next day on Nov. 30, 2006, Fulton County filed for an Emergency Restraining Order in Fulton County Superior Court, to shut the Love Shack down.
Judge Jerry Baxter said from the bench that he felt the county’s claim was not an emergency and that the matter should be decided by the federal judge handling the dispute between the Love Shack and Fulton County, Judge Thomas Thrash.
Judge Thrash eventual did rule that the Love Shack was operating as an adult bookstore and found Cornetta in contempt of court and fined him almost $20,000 and ordered that Cornetta needed to reduce his inventory by a “significant” amount. When pressed on what the definition of “significant” was by attorney H. Louis Sirkin, Thrash commented that “my order is what my order is.”
Cornetta appealed the district courts ruling and earlier this year the 11th Circuit Court of appeals decided to hear the case.
The Love Shack has been operating the store now for one year, however without a sign. Not only has the new city of Johns Creek not allowed Cornetta a sign, they sued him in State Court saying that he was operating an illegal business.
On Nov. 15, 2007 the Love Shack owner struck back filing his first action against the city. Cornetta filed suit in Fulton Superior Court saying city staff and the city Board of Zoning Appeals improperly denied him the right to put up a sign at his store in Johns Creek. www.ajc.com/search/content/metro/
northfulton/stories/2007/11/27/loveshack _1129.html
Thursday, Nov. 29, 2007, will mark the one-year anniversary of the Love Shack in Johns Creek as well as the day the 11th Circuit hears from both sides.
In celebration of this day Cornetta has decided to give all of the stores loyal customers 35% off as a way of saying thank you.
Cornetta added “I have said from day one that we wanted to work with the community and that we were right on the law from day one. We have raised over $5,000 to help the city build a fire department and they have said no. We have offered rent-free space for a police sub-station and they have said no. Heck, I even asked the mayor to join me in a dunk tank where people could choose who to dunk, me or him, with all money going to charity and he has said no. I just have to wonder when we win this thing and I ask for an apology will he finally have the guts to say yes?”
Cornetta told the mayor that if he would not help with the fundraising event he would do it anyway and hire a look-a-like for the day. Cornetta didn’t have to look far as local adult celebrity Mike South jumped at the chance and on Saturday Dec. 15, 2007 the two will be out in the cold getting soaked for a good cause. www.mikesouth.com
For more in-depth coverage on this and other related stories please visit. www.loveshackonline.com/pressportal.html
Contact:
Kate Cook, 770.458.4386 ext 105
