Business owners in multiple counties suing Gov. Wolf over closure orders

Butler County has been in the yellow phase for a week, but businesses there and three others are moving forward with a lawsuit against Gov. Tom Wolf.

Business owners in four counties – Butler, Fayette, Green and Washington – are suing Wolf over his order to close “non-essential” businesses amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Channel 11 spoke with Tom King, the lawyer who filed the lawsuit on behalf of the business owners.

“The importance of this case goes on. So, for example, even in a red zone or yellow zone there are still limitations on people’s constitutional rights. Their constitutional rights don't go away,” King said.

King said at any time Butler County could go back to the red phase, and placing limits on people violates their constitutional rights.

“The imposition on people’s constitutional rights even in war time, even in a pandemic … this is America, and people have constitutional rights. That's the message that we want to send to the governor,” he said.

The case was filed in federal court, and the lawyers are asking for a speedy hearing.

The judge set one for May 27.

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