News Briefings: Aug. 12-18

Voyeur ordered to provide discovery items

Philadelphia Common Pleas Court Judge John M. Younge recently ordered Voyeur Nightclub to provide discovery items in a civil case or risk sanctions.

 

 On Dec. 10, 2013, Nicholas D. Forte was assaulted outside Voyeur by Miguel Maldonado, a Voyeur bouncer, and Matthew M. Morris, a Voyeur patron.

 Forte’s injuries include a broken eye socket, a broken nose, a broken rib and multiple facial fractures.

Forte filed suit in Philadelphia Common Pleas Court in 2015, seeking more than $50,000 in damages.

 Maldonado and Morris were convicted of multiple offenses stemming from the incident, and remain incarcerated in state prisons.

 Forte alleges that Morris and/or Maldonado were served alcoholic beverages at Voyeur while visibly intoxicated prior to assaulting Forte.

 Forte also contends Voyeur failed to warn patrons of dangerous conditions outside the nightclub, located at 1221 St. James St., according to court records.

 On Aug. 4, Voyeur was ordered to provide discovery items to Forte within 20 days or face sanctions.

 Neither side had a comment for this update.

 AIDS fundraiser slated

 The AIDS Law Project of Pennsylvania will hold its annual summer-party fundraiser Aug. 19 featuring the 1968 film “Boom,” starring Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton.

 “Boom” was adapted from a play written by Tennessee Williams.

 A pre-movie party with food and beverages begins at 6 p.m. The movie begins at 7:30 p.m. Film historian Richard Barrios will introduce and discuss “Boom.”

 The event will take place at William Way LGBT Community Center, 1315 Spruce St.

 “We always look forward to the annual summer-movie party,” said Ronda B. Goldfein, executive director of the law project. “It’s a time to come in from the heat, have a cold drink, enjoy a cool film and support a great cause. All year long, the AIDS Law Project provides vitally important legal services to people with HIV in Pennsylvania and southern New Jersey. The movie party is a night to relax a little with our friends and supporters. “

 Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 at the door. Advance tickets can be purchased by calling 215-587-9377 or going to aids-lawpa.org.

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Tim Cwiek has been writing for PGN since the 1970s. He holds a bachelor's degree in history from West Chester State University. In 2013, he received a Sigma Delta Chi Investigative Reporting Award from the Society of Professional Journalists for his reporting on the Nizah Morris case. Cwiek was the first reporter for an LGBT media outlet to win an award from that national organization. He's also received awards from the National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association, the National Newspaper Association, the Keystone Press and the Pennsylvania Press Club.