Two people, including the general manager of the Hilton Garden Inn, have filed a complaint with the city asking that the license of a popular downtown nightclub be revoked immediately.
In an extraordinary 173-page report filed with the city's Licenses Committee, Lisa Farrell, the hotel manager, and Thomas Wilson, a downtown resident, allege "repeated incidents of dangerous, violent, loud and indecent activity directly related to the operation of the Ladybug Club, also known as 618 Live on Water, 622 N. Water St."
The complaint, filed by attorney Marc Christopher, alleges incidents of gunshots, urinating and defecating on the street, sexual activity in the streets, fights and shootings. The report also details two shootings last summer, in which three people were shot in the vicinity of the club.
Christopher also filed a public nuisance action in Milwaukee County Circuit Court, asking a judge to close the club. No date has been set for a hearing.
Farrell alleges that the operations and activity at the club threaten the well-being of the hotel, 611 N. Broadway, and its ability to remain viable as an employer. The complaint says the Hilton chain invested $19 million in the hotel.
The complaint says the hotel has had to compensate guests by relocating them to other rooms in the hotel, provide security escorts to guests trying to get to their cars and has had to write off customers' bills.
The hotel employs 80 people, the complaint states.
The club's tavern and public entertainment license was renewed in November with a warning letter. But the complaint alleges that problems have continued since then.
In addition to the Hilton and Wilson, Business Improvement District No. 21 and the Downtown Neighbors Association of Milwaukee are urging that the club's license be revoked.
The complaint includes dozens of pages of police reports detailing incidents at the club.
Habib Manjee, the general manager and licensee of the club, said Thursday that the city is trying to shut down his club because his business caters to African-Americans.
"They're blaming me for the shootings," Manjee said. "It had nothing to do with us."
Ald. Bob Bauman, who represents the downtown area, said he has supported revoking the club's license for years, adding that the club's license has been suspended in previous years.
"They will play the race card," Bauman said. "That's bothersome to me. It's about behavior and money. He has made an immense amount of money at that club."
Bauman added that the documentation will show that Hilton's business has been hurt by the club. "No doubt about it," Bauman said. "Tens of thousands of dollars in room charges. It's costing their business."
Mike Maistelman, Ladybug's attorney, said in a statement: "People can make unfounded allegations about the Ladybug Club. The record shows that the City of Milwaukee has unanimously voted to renew the Ladybug's license to operate since 2011, that the Milwaukee Police Department has testified in support of the Ladybug's license renewal and this year the City of Milwaukee with the local alderman's blessing voted to extend the closing time for the Ladybug Club. During the most recent licensing hearing in January, no one showed up to testify against the Ladybug Club."
City records indicate that Manjee met with police in July to develop a nuisance-abatement plan. Manjee said he also reached out to the Hilton, but hotel officials declined to speak with him.
Records indicate that Manjee had planned to close his club next month for a week. But Manjee said Thursday that, because of the complaint, he planned to stay open.
A hearing on the matter will be held Oct. 18.
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