Avakian Will Seek $8 Million From Stars Cabaret

Labor commissioner wants strip joint chain to compensate juvenile victims.

By Nigel Jaquiss

Oregon Labor Commissioner Brad Avakian is turning up the heat on the Stars Cabaret strip-joint chain.

On March 31, Avakian notified Stars he is bringing civil rights charges against the company for unlawful sexual harassment of minors, and intends to fine the company $7,200. More significantly, Avakian seeks damages of $4 million each for two teenage girls who danced at Stars' Beaverton location when they were 13 and 15, respectively.

The 13-year-old was raped repeatedly, and a Stars manager was sentenced to 15 years in prison for her abuse. Avakian will now pursue an administrative prosecution of Stars and its owners in which he will seek to force them to compensate the young women.

"Today's charges reflect the severity of conditions faced by these vulnerable minors," Avakian said in a statement. Courtney Angeli, Stars' attorney, was unavailable for comment.

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