AG Keith Ellison files for temporary restraining order against Lakeville restaurant illegally operating on-premises dining
[KSTP]
Thursday, Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison announced his office filed a motion for a temporary restraining order against Lakeville restaurant Alibi Drinkery.
The attorney general’s office sued the establishment for openly violating the ban on on-premises dining in Gov. Tim Walz’s Executive Order 20-99.
"Immediate and irreparable injury will result if the State is required to wait until Alibi Drinkery can be fully heard in opposition to the State’s request for temporary injunctive relief authorized by Minnesota Statutes section 8.31 and Executive Order 20-99. Alibi Drinkery has represented publicly that it would continue offering on-premises consumption of food or beverage to the public, and allow more than five members of the public in its restaurant, in violation of Executive Order 20-99. Alibi Drinkery’s ongoing conduct is a continuing violation and a series of individual violations since Executive Order 20-99 went into effect," the attorney general’s office wrote.
In a related development, the other establishment that the attorney general’s office sued on Thursday for violating Executive Order 20-99, Princeton restaurant Neighbors on the Rum, voluntarily closed for on-premises dining and represents that it is complying with the executive order.
"I’m glad to see that more and more restaurants are accepting their responsibility to keep Minnesotans safe and complying with the executive order," said Ellison in a statement. "We will continue to hold accountable those that insist on violating the order and endangering the lives of their customers, employees, and communities."
"The vast majority of Minnesota bars and restaurants have complied all along with the law and have met their responsibility to keep their communities safe. They deserve our thanks and patronage, not unfair competition."