MDH sues Lynd restaurant, revokes license of Nisswa restaurant over COVID non-compliance
Minnesota Department of Health[KSTP]
The Minnesota Department of Health has sued a Lynd restaurant and revoked the license of a Nisswa restaurant due to non-compliance with COVID-19 laws.
MDH said, with help from the Minnesota Attorney General’s Office, a lawsuit seeking a court-ordered injunction against Havens Garden was filed Friday. MDH previously served the restaurant with a cease and desist order on Wednesday after it continue operating in-person dining, which violates Executive Order 20-99.
Additionally, MDH revoked the license of Iron Waffle for repeated non-compliance with the COVID restrictions. MDH said the restaurant was the subject of multiple complaints, with alleged violations of employee masking. After MDH education attempts with the restaurant owners failed, a cease and desist order was served on Aug. 6. The restaurant briefly closed but reopened again in non-compliance.
According to MDH, Iron Waffle was also fined $9,500 for repeated non-compliance.
"We work with regulated facilities to bring them into compliance and we consider regulatory or legal action only as a last resort," MDH Assistant Commissioner Dan Huff said. "Most Minnesotans and Minnesota businesses are doing their best to follow best practices and do what’s in their power to help slow down the spread of the virus. Consistent enforcement is an important fairness issue for the vast majority of businesses that are following COVID-19-related protocols. It’s also important to minimize the spread of this virus, which has already sickened and killed far too many of our friends, neighbors and loved ones."
Earlier Friday, Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison said his office had filed a lawsuit and motion for a temporary restraining order against Boardwalk Bar and Grill in East Grand Forks for its non-compliance with COVID restrictions. A court granted that motion Friday night.
Ellison’s office has now taken legal action against three Minnesota businesses in the past three weeks for failing to comply with the state’s coronavirus restrictions.