Man says strip club workers tried to charge him thousands

CHARLESTON - A Kanawha County man has filed a suit against the employees of a local strip club, claiming they tried to charge his credit card for thousands of dollars.

Chris Hizer filed a suit Oct. 19 in Kanawha Circuit Court against Shockers Lounge and employees Jim Wilson and Kim Wilson.

According to the suit, in July 2007, Hizer was at Shockers Lounge. He claims he ordered two drinks for himself and three for an exotic dancer.

Hizer claims he was told on three occasions that personnel at the club needed to get guarantees on his credit card, but that no charges were being placed on the card.

According to the suit, Hizer was told that the previous guarantees did not go through, but he found out later the charges were all placed on his card.

According to the suit, Jim and Kim Wilson have a long history of defrauding people by using their credit cards.

At the end of the night, Hizer was given a bill for $500 for drinks and private dances, and Hizer claimed he only owed $60. Hizer was told to disregard the bill and $399 would be issued to his card.

Hizer claims the $101 he was charged was more than he owed, but he allowed it to be put on his card.

According to the suit, Hizer learned that the next day, the Wilsons charged him for $6,000 and then tried to charge an additional $10,000 -- in the amounts of $5,000, $3,000 and $2,000 -- but those charges were declined.

Hizer claims the Wilsons owe him $6,399 that they defrauded from him, as well as interest. He seeks compensatory and punitive damages.

Attorney Richard J. Lindroth is representing Hizer. The case has been assigned to Judge Tod Kaufman.

Kanawha Circuit Court case number 07-C-2279