§ 5.09.180 — Scienter required to prove violation or business licensee liability

5.09.180 - Scienter required to prove violation or business licensee liability.

This chapter does not impose strict liability. Unless a culpable mental state is otherwise specified herein, a showing of a knowing or reckless mental state is necessary to establish a violation of a provision of this chapter. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, for the purposes of this chapter, an act by an employee that constitutes grounds for suspension or revocation of that employee's license shall be imputed to the sexually oriented business licensee for the purposes of finding a violation of this chapter, or the purposes of license denial, suspension, or revocation, only if an officer, director, or general partner, or a person who managed, supervised, or controlled the operation of the business premises, knowingly or recklessly allowed such act to occur on the premises. It shall be a defense to liability that the person to whom liability was imputed was powerless to prevent the act.

(Ord. No. 17691, § 1, 12-6-2011, eff. 2-29-2012)