A Lantana woman has filed a lawsuit in a Denton County district court naming the city of Justin, together with 15 city employees and elected officials, alleging a pattern of official suppression, unlawful taking and racketeering in conspiring to close her snow cone stand. 

DRC/Al Key

Stephanie Graham, shown at her closed snow cone stand in Justin Feb. 21, is suing the city and 15 Justin employees and officials.

Stephanie L. Graham, 36, listed 34 counts in all, from violations of her constitutional rights to a RICO — racketeer influenced and corrupt organizations — claim against the city, former Mayor Ed Trietsch, current Mayor Daniel Cocanougher, the City Council, five employees and two contract employees, including the city building inspector and the city planner.

Graham bought an existing business in Justin last year and was able to operate it for about four weeks before city officials shut it down. Graham thought she had been closed for lack of a health permit. Former city health inspector Jay Dickens said Graham had passed her inspection, but the city didn’t issue the permit. Eventually, Dickens insisted that Graham be issued her permit and then canceled his contract with Justin. In the year she’s been closed, Graham has slowly come to understand what happened.

“I didn’t know I would live in such strife,” Graham said. “I know it sounds naive, but I didn’t think I would have to fight so hard to have my rights.”

City Attorney Rob Dillard said he had not seen the lawsuit and did not offer a comment on it. However, he said Graham didn’t attend the last City Council meeting, which considered a new, special-use permit for the business.

“The council approved her zoning,” Dillard said.

In the four weeks she was open in February and March 2007, Graham paid more than $1,100 in sales taxes. Based on those early sales, she calculated that she lost more than $180,000 in business since then, “and that’s before snow cone season got started,” Graham said.

PEGGY HEINKEL-WOLFE can be reached at 940-566-6881. Her e-mail address is pheinkel-wolfe@dentonrc.com .