Sundance Saloon, Inc. v. City of San Diego

213 Cal. App. 3d 807, 261 Cal. Rptr. 841, 1989 Cal. App. LEXIS 892
CourtCalifornia Court of Appeal
DecidedAugust 30, 1989
DocketD008383
StatusPublished
Cited by14 cases

This text of 213 Cal. App. 3d 807 (Sundance Saloon, Inc. v. City of San Diego) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering California Court of Appeal primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Sundance Saloon, Inc. v. City of San Diego, 213 Cal. App. 3d 807, 261 Cal. Rptr. 841, 1989 Cal. App. LEXIS 892 (Cal. Ct. App. 1989).

Opinions

Opinion

BENKE, J.

Sundance Saloon, Inc. (Sundance), a business licensed as a cabaret by the City of San Diego, filed a complaint pursuant to 42 United States Code section 1983 to enjoin the enforcement of San Diego Municipal Code1 section 33.1501.15, requiring cabarets, with certain exceptions, to close between the hours of 2 a.m. and 6 a.m. A cabaret is defined by the Municipal Code as a commercial establishment that serves alcoholic beverages and allows or provides entertainment. (§ 33.1501, subd. (c)(1).) Sun-dance argued that providing entertainment is an activity protected by the free speech guaranties of both the federal and state Constitutions. Sundance asserted the municipal ordinance in question was an unjustified abridgement of that right and should be enjoined.

Simultaneously with the filing of its complaint, Sundance filed a motion for a temporary injunction to enjoin the enforcement of the ordinance [811]*811pending the resolution of its 1983 action. The motion was denied and it is from that denial Sundance appeals.

Discussion

In considering a motion for a preliminary injunction, the trial court evaluates two related questions: first, the harm the plaintiff is likely to suffer if the injunction is denied compared to the harm the defendant is likely to suffer if the injunction is issued; and second, the likelihood the plaintiff will prevail on the merits at trial. (Cohen v. Board of Supervisors (1985) 40 Cal.3d 277, 286 [219 Cal.Rptr. 467, 707 P.2d 840]; Graf v. San Diego Unified Port Dist. (1988) 205 Cal.App.3d 1189, 1194 [252 Cal.Rptr. 889].)

At the outset of the hearing below, the trial court explained its tentative ruling denying Sundance relief: “I wasn’t persuaded that in light of what I considered to be a reasonable purpose of this municipal code section to control noise and public disturbances after reasonable closing hours of two a.m., that limitation for four hours to the day on social dancing was an infringement on the First Amendment freedom of expression, counsel.

“I wasn’t persuaded that it was probable that you would recover or that you would prevail on that point. And consequently, I tentatively indicated a ruling to deny your request for preliminary injunction.”

At the conclusion of argument, the court reiterated its conclusion concerning infringement of First Amendment rights and added: “With due respect to your view, I don’t consider a restriction on operating a cabaret between the hours of two and six a.m. to be a broad brush approach to regulation of establishments of this kind, and I don’t consider the ordinance to be an infringement on the First Amendment right of expression on the showing before me. I don’t think there has been adequate showing that there is, in fact, any infringement on any First Amendment right such that it would justify granting the preliminary injunction on the basis of irreparable harm in light of the circumstances.”2

The decision to issue or deny a preliminary injunction rests in the sound discretion of the trial court and the exercise of that discretion will not be disturbed on appeal absent abuse (Cohen v. Board of Supervisors, supra, 40 Cal.3d at p. 286; Graf v. San Diego Unified Port Dist., supra, 205 Cal.App.3d at p. 1194.) The decision to deny a preliminary injunction is [812]*812upheld on appeal if the reviewing court determines discretion was properly exercised on either question considered. (Graf v. San Diego Unified Port Dist., supra, 205 Cal.App.3d at p. 1194.)

In general a preliminary injunction may not be issued “[t]o prevent the execution of a public statute, by officers of the law, for the public benefit” or “[t]o prevent the exercise of a public or private office, in a lawful manner, by the person in possession.” (Civ. Code, § 3423; Code Civ. Proc., § 526.) “ ‘While these general strictures do not preclude the issuance of preliminary injunctive relief when the constitutionality of a statute or ordinance is challenged, nevertheless, “. . . trial courts should be extremely cautious . . . [when asked] to enjoin law enforcement officials from enforcing an ordinance obviously approved and adopted by duly elected representatives of the people for the purpose of promoting and protecting public morality prior to a trial on the merits.” (Italics in original.) (City of Santa Monica v. Superior Court, [(1964 231 Cal.App.2d 223,] 226.)’ [Citation.]” (Cohen v. Board of Supervisors (1986) 178 Cal.App.3d 447, 453 [225 Cal.Rptr. 114].)

With these general principles in mind we proceed to review the ordinances in question and determine whether the trial court abused its discretion in denying the preliminary injunction.

A. Cabarets and the San Diego Municipal Code

Article 3, division 15 of the San Diego Municipal Code deals with the licensing and regulation of cabarets and dance halls. The code defines a cabaret as “any commercial establishment where alcoholic beverages are served or dispensed and which features, allows or provides live entertainment. A cabaret may permit patron dancing without obtaining a public dance permit, subject to the requirements of this Article.” (§ 33.1501, subd. (c)(1).)

In justifying its detailed regulation of cabarets, the Municipal Code sets out this declaration: “The Council of The City of San Diego finds that the operations of cabarets, public dances and dance halls, as defined in this Division, present an environment with the demonstrated potential for excessive noise generation and disorderly conduct by patrons, particularly at closing times, with the attendant adverse public safety impact on the surrounding business and residential community. Therefore, it is the purpose and intent of this Division that the operations of cabarets, public dances and dance halls shall be regulated as a matter of public safety through the issuance of a police permit by the Chief of Police, and to require the operators thereof as a condition of the issuance of the permit to be responsible for [813]*813patron conduct upon and in the vicinity of the licensed premises and to make adequate provisions for security, crowd control and patron conduct so as to curb and minimize disturbances as a result of the operation of the permitted premises, as specified in Section 33.1570.” (§ 33.1501, subd. (a).)

Division 15 of the code provides regulations for the operation of cabarets, including requirements that operators not allow underage or intoxicated persons to remain on the premises or in any parking lot or similar facility made available to patrons (§ 33.1501, subd. (d)(2)), that entertainers be of a certain age and perform from a stage from which patrons are excluded (§ 33.1501.2), that adequate lighting be provided (§ 33.1501.16), and that employees of the cabaret not leave the premises with a customer during the hours of employment (§ 33.1501.5).

Central to the present case is section 33.1501.15 dealing with closing hours. The section states: “All cabarets shall be closed and all patrons and guests shall vacate the licensed premises between 2:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m., except for cabarets that have been issued a special permit by the Chief of Police to operate between 2:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m., provided all the following conditions are met:

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Sundance Saloon, Inc. v. City of San Diego
213 Cal. App. 3d 807 (California Court of Appeal, 1989)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
213 Cal. App. 3d 807, 261 Cal. Rptr. 841, 1989 Cal. App. LEXIS 892, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/sundance-saloon-inc-v-city-of-san-diego-calctapp-1989.