City Seeking Shutdown Of Defiant Business

Lincoln, NE (August 4, 2020) On Tuesday morning, the motion for a temporary injunction was filed by the city against Madsen’s Bowling & Billiards.  It seeks to force the business to comply with the current Lincoln-Lancaster County Directed Health Measures.

The motion cites the emergency declaration Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird made in response to the Coronavirus in March and the Municipal Code stating that the Health Director has the authority to order the closure of any business.

It says that Madsen’s was given a notice by the Health Department to correct non-compliance issues,  saying that the business “negligently, recklessly, or intentionally failed to comply or obey the Health Order”. It specifically says the business allowed employees to work without face coverings, and allowed patrons and groups to congregate within six feet of each other without face coverings.

Over the past weekend, the business refused to obey an order from the Health Department to close for 24 hours because of the violations.  Madsen’s General Manager Ben Madsen told 10/11 NOW Saturday, “I’ll just wait and see what happens and if anything does happen, I’ll stand up for our rights as free citizens of the United States of America.”

The motion says “closing Defendants’ business is necessary to protect the safety, health, and welfare of the citizens of City.”

A hearing on the motion is scheduled in Lancaster County District Court on Wednesday afternoon.

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