Agreement includes $20,000 payment to the City by owners of Fisherman’s Wharf nightclub that was the site of fatal shooting in February
SAN FRANCISCO (Oct. 20, 2010)— A San Francisco Superior Court judge has approved a settlement and stipulated injunction negotiated by City Attorney Dennis Herrera that will permanently prohibit the owners and management of Club Suede, the notorious nightclub that was the site of a fatal shooting earlier this year, from operating an entertainment venue at the Fisherman’s Wharf property.
The injunction approved by Judge Peter J. Busch this morning bars defendants Hanson Wong, Ken Wong, Sunny Auyeung, Jason Gee, Frank Chan, Li Jiang, and Taliesin Entertainment Group, LLC from opening or seeking permits to operate a place of entertainment at 383 Bay Street, or maintaining the property in a manner that constitutes a public nuisance. The agreement additionally provides that the property must be maintained at all times in compliance with San Francisco Municipal Codes intended to protect the health and safety of tenants and neighbors.
“This agreement protects the safety of nightclub goers and neighbors, and assures fair treatment to the vast majority of law-abiding entertainment venues that comprise one of San Francisco’s most vibrant economic sectors,” said Herrera. “I’m grateful that the owners and operators of Club Suede recognized our firm resolve in pursuing this case, and agreed to a fair and reasonable settlement to conclude it.”
Club Suede was the site of a fatal shooting in the early hours of Feb. 7, 2010, and its operators have been reported for a pattern of nuisance and unlawful conduct dating as far back as 2007. Though Club Suede voluntarily closed its doors some months ago, today’s stipulated injunction permanently prevents the operators from reopening a place of entertainment at the violence-plagued establishment. The venue had been a frequent site of Police Department service calls for violent incidents, including some involving firearms; neighborhood +-vandalism; and crowd control problems, according to the civil complaint Herrera filed in April. The club’s long established pattern of illegal and unfair business practices additionally includes operating beyond permitted business hours; permitting consumption of alcohol after 2:00 a.m.; inadequately credentialed security personnel; and multiple violations of state and local codes.
The case is: City and County of San Francisco and People of the State of California v. Hanson Wong et al., S.F. Superior Court case no. 498-677, filed Apr. 15, 2010. A copy of the court order and additional documentation is available on the City Attorney’s Web site at https://www.sfcityattorney.org.