Pineapple Hill Saloon & Grill Sues State Over Outdoor Dining Ban

SHERMAN OAKS, CA — After sparking a dialogue with an emotionally charged video of a large film production eating next to her shuttered dining patio, the owners of Pineapple Hill Saloon & Grill are suing the state of California. The federal lawsuit seeks to overturn the state's ban on outdoor dining and names Governor Gavin Newsom, Attorney General Xavier Becerra and Acting State Public Health Officer Erica S. Pan, M.D as defendants.

According to the complaint, the named officials "have seized the coronavirus pandemic to expand their authority by unprecedented lengths, depriving plaintiff and all other similarly situated small business owners in California of fundamental rights protected by the U.S. and California Constitutions."

The lawsuit also takes issue with the state allowing retailers, grocery stores, marijuana dispensaries, and film productions to continue, while blocking restaurants from serving customers on-site.

Recently, L.A. County restaurants scored a moral victory when a Los Angeles judge overturned the county's ban on in-person dining. However, because the state's order was already in place, the ruling had no immediate effect.

Governor Newsom and other health officials have maintained that the ban was put in place to slow the spread of coronavirus, which is currently hurtling through L.A. County. Last week, the ICU capacity across Southern California fell to zero percent, with officials cautioning the worst is still yet to come.

City News Service contributed to this report.