New York Liquor Board Sued For Turning Point Casino Alcohol Permits

Three restaurant owner associations are crying foul over alcohol permits that were given to the Turning Stone Casino and Resort in New York. The groups have sued the New York state liquor board over the permits.

The lawsuit was filed because the Liquor Authority has approved thousands of temporary permits to The Beeches Restaurant of Rome. With those permits, alcohol was allowed to be served at the Turning Stone nightclub, restaurants, and lounges.

The restaurant owners associations feel like Turning Stone is abusing the law. The casino has repeatedly been turned away for a liquor license, but the group filing the lawsuit believes that a liquor license would be a better option than the temporary permits.

"If the liquor authority thinks it's OK for alcohol to be present at Turning Stone 27/7/365, then why deny them a liquor license," said David Vickers, the lawyers for the associations, as reported by The Associated Press, "Why not grant them a license and gain some oversight."

Turning Point found a way to get access to the alcohol permits by making their restaurants private clubs. When they made that change, they became eligible for the temporary permits. Still, Vickers believes that Turning Point is taking advantage of the laws that are in place.

"Calling something an event that is really an ongoing practice is really an abuse of the law," said Vickers. The lawyer has filed the lawsuit already against the Liquor Authority, and the Turning Stone American Culinary Federation Inc. The first hearing in the case is set for December 16th.

November 12, 2009
Posted By Tom Jones
Staff Editor, CasinoGamblingWeb.com
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