Posted on: Wednesday, August 25, 2004

Nightclub activities at high-rise ruled a nuisance

By Ken Kobayashi
Advertiser Courts Writer

A state judge yesterday issued a court order limiting the activities of what a homeowners association claimed was an unlicensed nightclub in the penthouse of the Century Center on Kalakaua Avenue.

Circuit Judge Victoria Marks declared the activities a nuisance and issued a preliminary injunction prohibiting Nu-u Corp., which owns the apartment on the 40th and 41st floors, from operating a park-and-valet service without written permission from the association.

She also ruled that the owner cannot have private parties of more than 35 people and cannot have those parties between the hours of 10 p.m. and 7 a.m.

The judge granted the court order at the request of the Association of Apartment Owners of Century Center. The association filed a lawsuit accusing the Nu-u Corp. and its agent, former state judge Richard Lee, of running a nightclub. Lee was a Family Court district judge from 1973 to 1985.

Christopher Goodwin, attorney for the association, said his client is "ecstatic." "They hope this will greatly reduce if not stop the disruption to the building and to the community," he said.

The injunction will be in effect until a trial to determine whether the order should be made permanent. A hearing is set for Sept. 10 for Marks to set the trial date.

Curtis Kam, Lee's lawyer, could not be reached for comment.