Interested in working with us? Call us on (800) 800-5678 or fill out this quick form and we will contact you within 24 hours!
Latest News from Wisconsin & Illinois
Hupy and Abraham, S.C. Successful In Another Biker Discrimination Case
Posted on Aug 27, 2009
Posted 9/18/2007
Hudson, Wisconsin, is a small town in northwestern Wisconsin, situated on the St. Croix River. Its become a tourist destination and many bikers visit the area because of the scenic nature of the St. Croix Valley. A motorcycle group known as the St. Croix Valley Riders frequents the area between Wisconsin and Minnesota and conducted meetings of their group in a local bar known as Dibbo’s. The bar had some problems during a recent motorcycle event, according to police, and the new chief asked the City of Hudson to impose rules on the bar in order to maintain its liquor license. Among the rules, the bar would be required to install video cameras, enforce a “no colors” policy, refuse motorcycle groups to meet at the bar and inform police of the activities or arrival of bike groups to Hudson.
The St. Croix Valley Riders contacted Hupy and Abraham, S.C. because they wanted to continue to hold meetings at the bar and they questioned the legality of some of the restrictions placed on the bar. Although a business can place certain requirements on patrons, it appeared the tactics being used by the City of Hudson amounted to coercion. Hupy and Abraham, S.C. was prepared to move forward with a federal lawsuit against the City of Hudson on behalf of the St. Croix Valley Riders. During negotiations, Attorney Michael Hupy was prepared to travel to Hudson and speak with the Chief of Police and the City Council. Although no meeting took place, Hupy and Abraham, S. C. and the City Attorney’s office continued to discuss the matter. Hudson City Attorney, Catherine Munkittrick, wrote a letter to Dibbo’s on August 3, 2007, in which she expresses that Dibbo’s has the responsibility to enforce any policies it adopts as it deems necessary and appropriate, which is to say the matter is left up to the bar, not the City, as it should be.
The St. Croix Valley Riders report that they are once again allowed to conduct their meetings at the bar, thus eliminating the need to move forward with any litigation.
