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Michigan Ag News Headlines |
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Judge Rejects Michigan Restaurant Lawsuit on Indoor Dining Ban
Michigan Ag Connection - 12/03/2020
The Michigan Restaurant & Lodging Association on Wednesday lost its bid to have a federal judge overturn a state order that "pauses" indoor dining.
U.S. District Judge Paul Maloney issued a written ruling denying the MRLA's request for a temporary injunction in its case against the state over the order, which went into effect Nov. 18.
The ruling is another blow to Michigan's restaurant industry and means that restaurants must remain closed to indoor dining at least through Dec. 8 when the "three-week pause" ordered by state Health Director Robert Gordon ends. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer earlier this week said she hadn't decided yet whether her administration will extend the shutdown, although many in the industry expect that will happen.
Gordon said a statement released after the ruling, "We are happy that today's ruling keeps in place measures that will save lives by limiting specific indoor gatherings that greatly increase the risk of COVID-19 spread. The science is settled: public health experts from around the nation and world say these types of actions must be taken to prevent the health care system from being overwhelmed by COVID-19 cases. These protocols on specific indoor gatherings, along with wearing face masks, social distancing and frequent handwashing, give Michigan a fact-based approach to slow the spread of COVID-19 so we can return to a strong economy and get back to normal safely as soon as we can."
In his ruling, Maloney -- a former Republican prosecutor in Berrien County appointed to the federal bench by President George W. Bush -- said the court finds that "a plausible explanation for the emergency order exists: Restaurant patrons cannot wear a mask while eating or drinking."
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