Guam - A local attorney believes the Alcohol Beverage Control Board is exceeding its authority and violating the law when it closes bars. Police and the ABC Board have been conducting Operation Dragon, visiting drinking establishments to ensure they are not serving alcohol to minors and not staying open later than the law allows.

Attorney Randy Cunliffe represents Ralphy's Lounge and another bar. He says his clients are pursuing the possibility of litigation after the ABC Board came to their establishments and shut them down for allegedly serving alcohol to minors. Cunliffe says a woman and her daughter came in to the bar and showed their IDs to the bouncer. After ordering a drink, police rushed in and patrons left the bar without paying their bills and the minor left the establishment.

Cunliffe says his clients are looking at filing a lawsuit because the ABC Board doesn't have the authority to shut them down. He says the law requires that an inspector or board member file a sworn report with the administrator, listing the facts and the witnesses and only the administrator can choose to close the place for up to 48 hours pending a hearing.

Department of Revenue & Taxation Rev director John Camacho believes he is the administrator and has never ordered the closure of any establishment.