Attorney General’s office files for temporary restraining orders against Monticello, Anoka restaurants illegally operating on-premises dining

TRO motion is next step in lawsuits against Cornerstone Cafe in Monticello and Cork in Anoka filed last Friday

December 21, 2020 (SAINT PAUL) — Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison announced today that his office has filed motions for temporary restraining orders against Cornerstone Cafe in Monticello and Cork in Anoka. On December 18, Attorney General Ellison’s office sued both establishments for openly violating the ban on indoor on-premises dining in Governor Tim Walz’s Executive Order 20-99. Among the requirements of the executive order — a targeted dial-back of certain activities to halt the spread of COVID-19 — are that bars and restaurants must close for on-premises indoor dining until December 18, 2020 at 11:59 p.m. That prohibition was extended by Executive Order 20-103 until January 10, 2021 at 11:59 p.m. 

The Attorney General’s office asked the court that both establishments be prevented from further violating Executive Order 20-99, including closing to the public for indoor on-premises consumption of food and beverages; and fully comply with Executive Order 20-99 and any future executive orders that apply to restaurants and/or bars, including Executive Order 20-103, while those executive orders are effective. 

“The vast majority of Minnesota’s bars and restaurants are complying with executive orders and meeting their responsibility to their communities. These two are not. I’ve asked the court to impose an immediate halt to their actions that are threatening the health and lives of their customers, communities, and all Minnesotans,” Attorney General Ellison said.