Axelrod, Smith & Kirshbaum
An Association of Professional Corporations
ATTORNEYS AT LAW
5300 Memorial Drive, Suite 1000
Houston, Texas 77007-8292
Telephone (713) 861-1996
| Robert D. Axelrod, P.C. | Facsimile (713) 552-0202 |
December 27, 2013
Eric Langan, Chief Executive Officer and President
Rick’s Cabaret International, Inc.
10959 Cutten Road
Houston, Texas 77066
Dear Mr. Langan:
We are acting as counsel to Rick’s Cabaret International, Inc., a Texas corporation (the “Company”) in connection with the registration by the Company of 800,000 shares of common stock, par value $.01 (the “Common Stock”), that may be issued under the Company’s Amended and Restated 2010 Stock Option Plan (the “Plan”) as set forth in the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-8 (“Registration Statement”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Act”), to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”).
We are familiar with the Registration Statement and the registration contemplated thereby. In giving this opinion, we have reviewed the Registration Statement and such other agreements, documents and certificates of public officials and of officers of the Company with respect to the accuracy of the factual matters contained herein as we have felt necessary or appropriate in order to render the opinions hereinafter expressed. In making our examination, we have assumed the genuineness of all signatures, the authenticity of all documents presented to us as copies thereof, and the authenticity of the original documents from which any such copies were made, which assumptions we have not independently verified. In rendering the opinions set forth herein, we have, with your consent, assumed the valid adoption of the Plan by the Company.
Based upon all of the foregoing, we are of the opinion that:
| 1. | The Company is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Texas; and |
| 2. | The shares of Common Stock to be issued under the Plan are validly authorized and, when issued and delivered in accordance with the terms of the Plan, upon payment therefore, will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable. |
The opinions expressed herein are limited to the matters expressly set forth herein and no other opinion shall be inferred or implied beyond the matters expressly stated herein.
Page 2
________________________
This opinion letter has been prepared and may be used by the Company as an exhibit in connection with the filing by the Company of the Form S-8, relating to the issuance of the Common Stock under the Plan, with the SEC. We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion letter as Exhibit 5.1 to the above-described Form S-8. In giving this consent, we do not hereby admit that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Act or the rules and regulations of the SEC thereunder.
| Very truly yours, | |
| /s/ Axelrod, Smith & Kirshbaum |
