Long Island strip club drops COVID closure lawsuit against Cuomo

Attorneys Peter Crusco (left), a former top official in the Queens DA’s Office, and Joe Murray, the Republican nominee for Queens DA in 2019, represented the strip club owner suing Gov. Andrew Cuomo. Photos via LinkedIn and Murray

By David Brand

A Long Island strip club owner and his two Queens-connected attorneys have dropped a federal lawsuit demanding compensation from Gov. Andrew Cuomo whose COVID-19 executive order shut down his business.

 The decision by Sean McCarthy, the owner of Blush Gentlemen’s Club in Commack, came a week after a federal judge denied his motion to reopen the business while the lawsuit was being argued.

McCarthy was represented by two lawyers with Queens ties: former Queens prosecutor Peter Crusco served as a top official in the Queens District Attorney’s Office for 28 years and attorney Joe Murray received the Republican nomination for Queens DA in 2019.

Crusco said they decided to drop the lawsuit after a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision seemed to negate their main argument, that Cuomo “is exercising kinglike powers in dealing with COVID.” 

“We determined it would be futile to pursue additional litigation,” he said. “It’s very disappointing because we spent a good deal of time on the case, but we understand the court’s ruling.”

Blush is allowed to reopen now that Long Island has entered Phase Three of the state’s economic plan. 

 “The client will reopen and try to make do,” Crusco said.