A Little Legal Birdy forwards news that a federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit brought by the Scores East alleging that New York City and the SLA used trumped up charges of prostitution as grounds to take away their liquor license. This is a major blow against the gentleman's club, which was once the biggest name in male entertainment, but has seen the bloom come off its rose over the past year. It's much heralded Scores West has closed down, many of it's franchises around the country have been sold, and Lonnie Hannover, who many credit with making Scores what it once was, has jumped shipped to rival Rick's Cabaret, bringing his high profile rolodex (and Ricky's Man) with him. There is still a lawsuit in state court that has yet to be heard, but things aren't looking good for the former king.

Full excerpt from the judgment after the jump.

A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit brought by the stripper club Scores East alleging that New York City and the state Liquor Authority entered into an agreement to use "pretextual" charges of prostitution to take away the club's liquor license. In denying the bid of the "gentlemen's club" at 333 East 60th St. for a preliminary injunction, Southern District Judge Richard J. Sullivan said Scores has failed to show the state agency, the city or any other defendant acted in bad faith or intended to harass the club. The club claims the agencies are trying to chill its First Amendment right to "expressive activity," but Judge Sullivan said it has not shown that a pending Liquor Authority proceeding would not adequately remedy any alleged constitutional violations. Moreover, he said "the First Amendment does not bar the state from enforcing valid laws intended to regulate liquor licenses merely because the establishment that holds the license also engages in First Amendment activity." A state lawsuit challenging the licensing revocation is still pending. Scores East v. New York State Liquor Authority, 08 Civ. 4147, will be published Friday.