As coronavirus restrictions are tightening again, a group of Nevada County restaurants have escalated their ongoing opposition. The Restaurant Coalition, currently consisting of twelve members, has now filed a lawsuit. Speaking to the media, as well as an enthusiastic group of supporters, outside Friar Tuck’s in Nevada City, one of the Coalition’s attorneys, Ken Harpainter, says the complaint alleges that Governor Newsom has exceeded his emergency powers, among other things…

The suit, which also seeks unspecified financial compensation, is being filed in Federal Court, also names state and local officials, including Nevada County Public Health Officer Rick Johnson and the Board of Supervisors. Friar Tuck’s and Old Town Cafe in Grass Valley are among restaurants recently sanctioned by the county for not complying with COVID restrictions. Old Town Cafe owner Robin Buckman says the restrictions have not only been hurting people’s livelihoods but are applied arbitrarily…

In a statement, the Coalition’s lead attorney, Steven Bailey, says Governor Newsom originally predicted, in March, that 25-million Californians might get the virus, but the actual number is less than one-million.