Ellison files 3 new lawsuits against restaurants violating COVID restrictions

Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison’s office has filed three new lawsuits against restaurants violating COVID-19 restrictions.

According to Ellison, the three restaurants — St. Patrick’s Tavern, in New Prague, Pour House, in Clarks Grove, and The Interchange, in Albert Lea — have been offering on-premises dining in violation of Executive Order 20-99.

"There are 10,000 restaurants and 1,500 bars in Minnesota. By far the vast majority of them have served their communities by complying with the law all along. Unfortunately, a very small handful are threatening their customers, their workers, and their communities by refusing to comply and violating the law. Their insistence on violating the law is simply prolonging the pain of the pandemic for everyone," Ellison said.

"I thank the thousands of Minnesota bars and restaurants that have done the right thing and met their responsibility to their communities by continuing to follow the law: they deserve our thanks and our patronage, not unfair competition. I don’t enjoy using the enforcement tools I have available because I’d much prefer all establishments do the right thing on their own, but I will continue to use them when I have no other choice to protect Minnesotans from this deadly virus," he added.

Ellison’s office has now filed 10 enforcement actions against businesses violating COVID-19 restrictions.