Crazy Strip Club Bill
Strip club deadbeat? Bank exec racks up a $321,000 bill with Galleria strippers, refuses to pay
James Beckman had himself a hell of a time partying at a Galleria-area gentleman's club this summer . . . and now there's the matter of the bill.
The Privilege club on Westheimer filed suit against the Houston businessman and his employer — the Fortune 500 financial services company CIT Group — for an unpaid credit card tab topping $321,000.
While an itemized list of what Beckman ordered isn't included with the court documents, legal paperwork reveals that he visited the club on 13 to 14 different occasions throughout July and early August. On each trip, Beckman would manage to drop an average of $25,000 on his CIT company card.
On each trip, Beckman would manage to drop an average of $25,000.
In mid-August, Beckman contacted American Express "to report that he did not authorize any of the charges made during any of his visits."
Apparently, this isn't the businessman's first attempt at bilking Privilege. According to the lawsuit, he spent a "substantial sum" at the club just a year ago only to have the charges reverse by the credit card company.
Beckman is alleged to have refused to pay his bills at other area adult clubs, several of which also have filed suit.
A spokesperson with CIT Group tells Fox 26 that the company — which must be listed on Beckman's credit card — had no knowledge of their employee's shenanigans and considers the lawsuit a "personal matter" between the club and its patron.