Court orders Lakeville restaurant to close for on-premises dining
Must close or risk being found in contempt of court; hearing scheduled for December 22
December 18, 2020 (SAINT PAUL) — Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison announced today that Dakota County District Court granted a temporary restraining order against Lakeville restaurant Alibi Drinkery. On December 17, Attorney General Ellison’s office sued Alibi Drinkery for openly violating the ban on on-premises dining in Governor Tim Walz’s Executive Order 20-99, and also filed a motion for a temporary restraining order, which the court just granted.
Alibi Drinkery must now close for on-premises dining or risk being found in contempt of court.
The court has scheduled a hearing in the matter for Tuesday, December 22 at 10:00 a.m.
“I’m gratified the court recognizes the severity of the pandemic and the need to take urgent action to stop the spread of COVID-19. I’m equally gratified that the vast majority of Minnesota bars and restaurants are already complying with their responsibility to keep their customers, employees, and communities safe. The very few that aren’t complying are simply prolonging the pandemic and the pain it’s caused all of us,” Attorney General Ellison said.
“I don’t enjoy using tools I have available to force establishments to comply, but today has shown once again that my office will use them when we must in order to protect Minnesotans from this deadly virus,” Attorney General Ellison concluded.
Update
December 31, 2020 — 11:42 AM
Court orders Lakeville establishment to comply with executive order requiring temporary closure for indoor on-premises dining
Court: Alibi’s actions ‘are both against the law and harmful…directly promoting the spread of Covid-19’; finds Alibi’s arguments ‘without merit and devoid of factual or legal support’ Must comply with order to remain closed for indoor on-premises dining or risk being found in contempt of court, liquor license being revoked by DPS
December 31, 2020 — 4:31 PM
Attorney General asks court to find Lakeville establishment in contempt
Alibi Drinkery operating indoor, on-premises dining in defiance of temporary injunction issued earlier today; court sets hearing for January 5
January, 7 2020 — 6:06 PM
Court finds Alibi Drinkery in contempt, imposes $3K/day fine
Finds Alibi ‘intentionally and purposefully is violating’ temporary injunction, ‘willfully disobeyed’ and ‘is flagrantly in violation’ of court’s orders
