Businessman sues over €24,000 night out

A top insurance executive was stunned after a night at a New York strip club left him with a €23,800 bill.

Mitchell Blaser (aged 53) is suing Scores club in Manhattan, claiming that he was swindled.

But club owners insist Mr Blaser, chief financial officer of the Americas division of Swiss Re, was simply having a good time.

According to the club, bachelor Mr Blaser ordered five magnums of Clos Du Mesnil Champagne at €2,700 each.

Mr Blaser’s lawyer, Leonard Zack, said his client was expecting a bill of about €3,000 from the club, whose previous customers include Irish actor Colin Farrell.

“They probably do it to a lot of people who don’t want to do anything,” he said.

Mr Blaser filed a police complaint and then launched a lawsuit in a Manhattan court.

But the club claims the price tag was down to a night of extravagance in December.

Scores spokesman Lonnie Hanover said Mr Blaser charged €5,900 worth of Diamond Dollars – the club’s currency – to his American Express card and bought a string of lap dances.

As well as the champagne, Mr Blaser ordered €415.90 worth of shots and food, Mr Hanover said.

“At £7,000 (€10,400) he had a dozen girls hanging on to his words for several hours,” Mr Hanover said.

Mr Hanover told the New York Daily News that the club has Mr Blaser’s signed receipts to prove “this is a totally frivolous lawsuit”.

“It is very intoxicating being surrounded by beautiful girls,” he added.

“This man purchased our most expensive bottle of champagne. It is rated the best in the world.

“You can have a wonderful bottle of champagne for $300 (€251.40). This is the extreme. The last person to buy one was a head of state.”