Judge throws out head shop lawsuit against Duluth

Published 9:02 am Friday, December 14, 2012

DULUTH — A judge has thrown out a Duluth head shop owner’s lawsuit against the city over a 2011 raid.

Judge Shaun Floerke dismissed the lawsuit Tuesday brought by Last Place on Earth owner Jim Carlson.

The judge ruled the city did not violate Carlson’s civil rights when it raided his downtown head shop on Sept. 21, 2011, and seized $83,510 in cash, about $250,000 worth of products — largely synthetic marijuana — and 28 guns.

Email newsletter signup

The judge also denied Carlson’s request to force the return of his cash, retail products and guns.

Carlson did succeed in forcing the city to release the results of chemical tests conducted on products taken during the search. Carlson contends the tests show his shop had not violated the law.