N L Management Co

A federal court judge in Los Angeles, citing censorship concerns, has blocked Palmdale's attempt to close its only sexually explicit book and video store, ruling not only that the shop can remain open but also expand. In an interim order filed Monday, U.S. District Court Judge William M. Byrne said he found evidence of "improper censorial motives" in the Palmdale City Council's decision Feb. 26 denying business operating permits to Sunshine Gifts & Things.

A federal court judge in Los Angeles, citing censorship concerns, has blocked Palmdale's attempt to close its only sexually explicit book and video store, ruling not only that the shop can remain open but also expand. In an interim order filed Monday, U.S. District Court Judge William M. Byrne said he found evidence of "improper censorial motives" in the Palmdale City Council's decision Feb. 26 denying business operating permits to Sunshine Gifts & Things.

In a setback for Palmdale officials, a Los Angeles federal court judge Thursday not only refused the city's attempt to close its only hard-core sex bookstore, but ruled the store can open video viewing booths. During an hourlong hearing, U.S. District Court Judge William M. Byrne questioned whether the City Council had proper legal grounds when it denied operating permits on Feb. 26 to Sunshine Gifts and Things, owned by the N.L. Management Co.

A fight over the sale of sexually explicit material in Palmdale escalated Wednesday as the city tried to close the area's first and only hard-core adult book and video store. City officials ordered Sunshine Gifts and Things closed Wednesday morning, in keeping with a 5-0 vote by the City Council Tuesday night not to grant operating permits that the store was required to obtain under an ordinance that took effect in October.

Palmdale has agreed to settle a legal battle over its efforts to close the city's only adult book and video store in a deal that reportedly will allow the controversial outlet to remain open. David Brown, an attorney representing Sunshine Gifts & Things, said Friday that Palmdale has agreed to settle a federal court lawsuit brought by the store's owner last November. "It's been settled and my client is pleased with the settlement," Brown said.