Privé appeals but to no avail

If at first you don't succeed, try again with a different lawyer.

That was the strategy officials at Privé nightclub and Planet Hollywood Resort took to reopen a troubled night spot.

It didn't work.

On Friday, Clark County officials confirmed they turned down a request by Planet Hollywood Resort operators seeking to take over operations at the Privé and Living Room nightclubs.

Frank Schreck, an attorney for Planet Hollywood Resort, made the request via a letter to Jacqueline Holloway, director of the Department of Business License.

"Planet Hollywood plans to take over operation of the Bars, under its liquor license tonight in order to preserve +/- 150 jobs, avoid damaging Planet Hollywood's operations, and honor commitments currently in place with patrons," Schreck wrote.

It was the second attempt in as many weeks, the first was from Privé lawyer Jay Brown, who sought unsuccessfully to persuade Holloway to extend temporary liquor licenses to keep the club open.

"At this time, based upon what you have provided for our review, we are not confident that Planet Hollywood, utilizing the current Privé employees, would operate the nightclub with the proper level of protection for the public health, welfare and safety of guests," Holloway wrote to Schreck in a letter dated Thursday.

That means Privé, which is located in the Planet Hollywood casino, won't be open for business this weekend.

The club's fate will be left to Clark County commissioners, who on Tuesday are scheduled to hear appeals from the club operators about how they've corrected flaws in their operations that allegedly allowed illegal drug use, lewd and abusive sexual behavior and the presence of underage patrons in the club.

Contact reporter Benjamin Spillman at bspillman@reviewjournal.com or 702-477-3861.