CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) --The owners of two businesses that were shut down by Blue Island following three shooting incidents nearby have filed a lawsuit against the city, alleging constitutional violations.
The city said Raven's Place, a bar and The Vault, a bar/restaurant and game room, are being held accountable for incidents that took place around the businesses involving their patrons.
"They're just looking at the color of the people's skin and saying that they're coming from either Raven's Place or The Vault," said Manager Raymond Thomas.
Attorney John Ellis, who’re representing the businesses, said the city imposed crippling restrictions on the businesses before shutting them down.
"There were other more serious incidents of conduct at other establishments," he said.
Ellis pointed to video of a neighboring bar owner, directing the N-word at patrons of the businesses and threatening to kill their security guard, in front of a cop.
The lawsuit seeks monetary damages and an order lifting the restrictions. There’s also a pending appeal of the shutdowns.
"These incidents, individually and taken as a whole, have demonstrated to City officials that Raven’s Place/The Vault has become a dangerous nuisance to residents," the city said in a statement to WBBM.
"The decisions made by the Liquor Commissioner were based on facts and evidence and the establishment owners were given the same due process as other establishments in similar circumstances."
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