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OXNARD, Calif .– It has been almost a month since Ventura County filed a lawsuit against several gyms and restaurants for violating COVID health orders. A business owner fights back and takes his case to federal court.
Ms. Olson’s Coffee Hut at Oxnard operates outside and inside despite health orders. But staying open has been a battle.
“I have been subjected to so many threats from the county,” said Matt Brimigion, owner of Ms. Olson’s Coffee Hut. “They were trying to kick me out and do whatever they could, calling me a public nuisance.”
Ventura County has filed injunctions against more than a dozen local businesses for violating health ordinances. The iconic breakfast spot was one of them, but owner Matt Brimigion fought back in court on Tuesday.
“We went to court for the charges brought against me by the county for being a public nuisance,” Brimigion said. “And for the temporary restraining order. We were able to have them withdrawn and go to federal court. “
“It’s a constitutional question,” said Ronda Baldwin-Kennedy, who represents Ms. Olsons’s. “They want businesses to stay closed, so they should be constitutionally compensated.”
Baldwin-Kennedy also represents 6 other local businesses facing legal action. She says the charges against Ms Olsen have not all been dropped and the case is pending.
“I am removing all state actions that the county has brought and taking them to federal court,” Baldwin-Kennedy said. “We just got an email this morning in which all of the cases that I represent have been transferred to another county council and they want to talk to us and resolve this issue.”
Ventura County has released a statement that its next step is to try and get the federal court to agree to send the case back to state court, which will take several days. Despite the controversy, customers still show up.
“If opening my doors and serving food to the general public, listening to music and giving joy to people is a public nuisance, then I’m guilty of it,” Brimigion said.
Brimigion makes a move against the county, pushing to recall four members of the supervisory board.
“Of the five county council members, 4 of them voted to sue me, so what they did is unfair, so we will sue them,” Brimigion said. “We have launched a recall process for the four board members who have succeeded us.
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