Man files lawsuit against Lynn nightclub

LYNN – A Revere man has taken court action against the Cafe Tropicana nightclub at 649 Lynnway, claiming a $40,000 stake in the business that was not reflected in the city-issued liquor license.Juan Jaramillo, 231 American Legion Highway in Revere, is seeking a preliminary injunction in Lynn District Court against the nightclub, owner Gabriel Rivera and GGRC, the corporation organized to run the business. He has requested a jury trial.News of the court action surfaced Tuesday during a public hearing before the Lynn License Commission, where Cafe Tropicana representatives were called to answer allegations against the nightclub.Attorney Jonathan G. Sachariah of the Malden law firm Rodman, Walker, DiMarco told the local board he has filed for a preliminary injunction in Lynn District Court and that a hearing was scheduled for March 26. He also noted that his client intends to ask the Essex Superior Court to attach the Cafe Tropicana’s license until the ownership matter is resolved.License Commission Chairman Richard Coppinger said the notion that the nightclub has a silent partner could amount to serious charges. Cafe Tropicana was ordered to appear before the commission after police reported a melee in the parking lot of an adjacent property that occurred after closing time and resulted in two participants stabbed and a police officer injured by repellent spray.According to documents on file at Lynn District Court, Jaramillo and Rivera entered into a partnership in January 2008 to run Cafe Tropicana. Jaramillo purportedly paid the legal and licensing fees to get the operation under way, but his name was not included on the liquor license.Jaramillo has alleged in the court documents that he worked as the club manager for several months, invested $40,000 and was led to believe he would be an equal business partner. The club made no profit during the first months of operation, he said, adding that Rivera soon informed him that Mauricio Urrego had been added as a new business partner.Jaramillo said Urrego was brought into the mix because Rivera owed him $20,000 and this would settle the debt.In the ensuing months, Rivera agreed to give Jaramillo $33,000 or 27 percent of the business’ entire worth, paid in installments in an effort to buy him out of the partnership, according to court documents. Jaramillo has since claimed Rivera breached that agreement by failing to include his name on the license. He has also alleged that Rivera vowed to compensate him for his work at the nightclub, including the stint as manager.The public hearing for Cafe Tropicana continues in April before the License Commission.