Gentleman's club wants out of lawsuit
Kane County Judge Keith Brown will rule Dec. 6 on whether to remove a West Chicago-area strip club as a defendant in two civil lawsuits filed against John Homatas.
The 26-year-old Wayne man was convicted this summer of driving drunk and causing the deaths of his passenger, John A. Chiariello of St. Charles, Yorkville resident April Simmons, and her 8-month-old fetus.
Homatas was sentenced to 12 years in prison last month.
The families of Simmons and Chiariello are suing Homatas for damages.
Attorneys for Diamonds Gentlemen's Club have argued that because the club does not have a liquor license, it is not liable for the Jan. 4, 2006, crash on Route 25 near South Elgin.
Lawyers for the families have argued workers at Diamonds watched Homatas vomit in the bathroom, and they moved his car in the parking lot and let him get behind the wheel.
They also have said the club encourages patrons to bring their own hard liquor to the establishment.