Mongols vow lawsuit to hold rooms at inn
This story appeared in the Antelope Valley Press
Thursday, July 16, 2009.
By CRAIG CURRIER
Valley Press Staff Writer
LANCASTER – An attorney for the Mongols outlaw motorcycle club said they will sue to keep their rooms at the Desert Inn.
Called “domestic terrorists” by Mayor R. Rex Parris, who said the city will shut down the Desert Inn if necessary to keep their annual meeting out of Lancaster, Mongols members have agreed to pay more than $16,000 for 113 rooms, the banquet hall, restaurant and bar this weekend at the Desert Inn and also paid for 13 rooms at Lancaster’s Oxford Inn.
“The club’s constitutional rights are at stake by these threats made from the City of Lancaster, Mr. R. Rex Parris and Mr. David McEwen (city attorney),” attorney Albert Perez Jr. wrote to the Desert Inn’s general manager. “Club has also authorized my firm to proceed legally against any person and or individual who interferes in their right to associate, speech and contract.”
Desert Inn owner Hui Su said she had no idea she was doing business with members of the Mongols when she signed the contract to let them stay at the 144-room resort on Sierra Highway. Su said two men entered her hotel last week requesting a price quote for between 200 and 300 guests who would stay Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
They returned Monday and signed a contract with Su, renting the rooms for roughly $14,000 and agreeing to spend at least $2,500 at the hotel’s restaurant and bar during their stay. The restaurant and bar have been closing around 2 p.m. due to lack of business, Su said, but she plans to keep them open until 2 a.m. this weekend.