Towns on state borders live with two very different sets of COVID-19 rules
and last updated 2021-04-16 12:47:30-04
MIDDLESBORO, Ky. and TAZEWELL â If you can keep up with Chris Turnage, youâll see the hustle thatâs kept his business alive through the pandemic.
âA little bit before this time last year, we were doing about 15 to 25 to go orders a day. Now, weâre doing more than 200 every day,â said Turnage, the manager of Shades, a restaurant and bar in Middlesboro, Kentucky.
Here at Shades, Turnage and his team embraced this new way of serving. Theyâve also embraced social distancing inside and on their patio. But with all the to-go orders, this restaurant made a profit in 2020.
But the Jan. 5 suit adds a provision seeking damages and restitution for âunjust enrichmentâ by the restaurants, including âwrongful gains and disgorgement of profits realized through their violations of the order.â
The Lancaster County restaurants named in the new suit all received âclosure by noticeâ orders between Dec. 21 and Dec. 27 from the state Department of Agriculture for violating the indoor dining ban.
The Lancaster County restaurants named in the Jan. 5 department of health suit are:
Brickerville Family Restaurant, 2 28th East Division Highway, Lititz.
Hometown Kitchen, 18 Furnace Road, Quarryville.
New Holland Coffee Company, 832 West Main St., New Holland.
Park City Diner, 884 Plaza Blvd., Lancaster.
Fat Boys Summit Diner Somerset
The Blue Collar Tavern Emlenton
Angelo’s Family Restaurant Washington
Sharkey’s Café Latrobe
Read Tarkowski s complete statement below:
The governor and Secretary of Health’s orders were issued pursuant to the authority granted to them under the law, and as such they have the force and effect of law. This authority extends to all local enforcement agencies in Pennsylvania. Local law enforcement received guidance on enforcement of the various COVID-19 orders in place from the Pennsylvania State Police through the PA Chiefs of Police Association. Local police departments have discretion whether to warn or cite a business for violations. Enforcement efforts include issuing citations and fines, and possibly undertaking regulatory actions for repeat offenders.
Restaurants that continue to defy the closing orders and operate in any manner, according to the Department of Agriculture will be referred to the Pennsylvania Department of Health for further legal action.
About 79 visits to restaurants throughout the state were complaint-driven based on establishments offering dine-in service, said Shannon Powers, Department of Agriculture spokeswoman. The restaurants are among 180 establishments issued warnings by the department
The 40 restaurants were ordered to close for refusing to comply, while the others either agreed to stop dine-in service or had already done so, Powers said.
Some restaurant owners have unsuccessfully filed lawsuits against Wolf’s indoor dining ban. On Wednesday, a judge refused a plea by two central Pa. restaurants and a trade association to end enforcement of the indoor dining ban.
Fat Boys Summit Diner Somerset
The Blue Collar Tavern Emlenton
Angelo’s Family Restaurant Washington
Sharkey’s Café Latrobe
Read Tarkowski s complete statement below:
The governor and Secretary of Health’s orders were issued pursuant to the authority granted to them under the law, and as such they have the force and effect of law. This authority extends to all local enforcement agencies in Pennsylvania. Local law enforcement received guidance on enforcement of the various COVID-19 orders in place from the Pennsylvania State Police through the PA Chiefs of Police Association. Local police departments have discretion whether to warn or cite a business for violations. Enforcement efforts include issuing citations and fines, and possibly undertaking regulatory actions for repeat offenders.