Lingerie store files suit against city

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The store alleges the city says Rose Petal Lingerie is classified as an adult bookstore and must obtain a special license.

By Josh Mitchell
jmitchell@wyomingnews.com

CHEYENNE — A downtown lingerie boutique is suing the city on the basis of the municipal sexually oriented business ordinance.

Rose Petal Lingerie, located at 1609 Central Ave., argues that it does not fall under the definition of an adult bookstore.

But the city says the establishment, which advertises itself as “Your One Stop Love Shop,” does fall under the ordinance and therefore must get a sexually oriented business license, the lawsuit states.

This is just an attempt by the city to shut the business down, says the plaintiff, DDD Glass Werks Inc., which does business as Rose Petal Lingerie.

City attorney Dan White said he could not comment on whether the city disagrees with the business’ claim that Rose Petal Lingerie does not fall under the definition of adult bookstore in the ordinance.

The city will file its response to the lawsuit next week, White added.

White said he does not know whether the business would be denied a sexually oriented business license from the city, adding that the establishment has never applied for one.

White would not comment on how this case came about, but he said the city has not issued the business any notice of violation or ordered it to shut down.

According to the lawsuit, the business sells lingerie, oils, lotions and items for bachelorette parties. Those items do not fall under the city’s definition of a sexually oriented business, the plaintiff argues.

The city’s ordinance states that an adult bookstore sells or rents “books, magazines, periodicals or other printed matter; or photographs, films, motion pictures, videocassettes or video reproductions, slides, or other visual representations depicting or describing specified sexual activities or specified anatomical areas.”

The plaintiff says it does not sell those items and therefore is not an adult bookstore under the city’s definition.

The city could have written its ordinance to include items that Rose Petal Lingerie sells, but it did not, the lawsuit states.

The plaintiff “must be legally allowed to continue to make his livelihood and provide for his family,” the lawsuit says.

Officials with the business referred questions to their attorney, John Kuker of Cheyenne. Kuker did not return phone calls seeking comment.

The suit was filed this month in Laramie County District Court and was assigned to Judge Michael Davis.

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At Lingerie Football tryouts, women ripped, fit, competitive – Omaha World

Their uniforms may be “lingerie,” but the women who tried out for an all-female football team were anything but frilly or girly.

About 35 athletes on Saturday made a run, pass and tackle at gaining a spot on the Lingerie Football League’s local franchise, the Omaha Heart.

Most of the women were ripped, fit and bristling with competitiveness.

But it was tempered with a heavy dose of team spirit once the drills began at Off the Wall Sports in La Vista.

Morgan Anderson, 22, is a longtime athlete who played soccer for Bellevue University and Millard West High School.

“I love it,” she said, catching her breath from an offensive sprint-and-catch drill. “There’s nothing for female college athletes after school ends, but it’s something I want.”

Her mother, Debbie, and 17-year-old brother Hunter were in the stands cheering her on.

When asked if the uniform — a sports bra and short shorts — worried her, Debbie Anderson laughed and shook her head.

“I’m sure all the girls are very athletic, and that’s what they’re out there for. I support (Morgan),” she said.

The Lingerie Football League is a 7-on-7 tackle league. It’s full contact, played on a 50-yard field and there are no field goals or punts.

Three women traveled from Dallas to try out for the Omaha Heart team.

The Texans had a slight advantage over some of the other hopefuls because they had been training to play for the Dallas Desire, a lingerie team that was discontinued earlier this year.

“We’ve been athletes our whole lives. This is a way to be tough but still be a lady,” said 26-year-old Shawnte Bunting of Dallas, who works full time as an insurance agent.

Family members of Leslie Walls, 26, were also at the arena to show their support.

Justin Walls said his 6-foot-2-inch wife — hard to miss in neon yellow — was a college basketball player who missed team competition.

She had their son Colton 18 months earlier and has been working out since then, he said.

“She would run drills in our cul-de-sac,” Walls said. “I’m very proud.”

Jacqueline Smyth, 26, said the sense of camaraderie on the field made her desire for a spot on the team even stronger.

Smyth owns a cleaning company in Omaha. She said she has played sports for most of her life.

“I’m excited and so glad this team came to Omaha,” she said.

Some of the women in the tryouts will be invited to a training camp later this year. For those who missed their chance on Saturday, another open tryout is in the works for August.

The team is scheduled to begin play at the new Ralston arena in 2013.

Contact the writer:

402-444-3131, sam.womack@owh.com

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