Ninety bars and restaurants suing the state of New York over a coronavirus-related curfew at 11 pm were allowed to remain open until normal closing hours at 4 am this weekend, after a decision on Saturday night by a judge of the state Supreme Court.
Judge Timothy Walker’s decision, granting an injunction, went into effect immediately, Buffalo’s WIVB-TV reported.
Steve Cohen, a lawyer at the law firm Hogan-Willig, who represents the plaintiffs, said the company’s clients were satisfied with the decision. The company argued that the curfew was not supported by science.
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“It’s probably the last chance for our customers to be able to bring life back to them. They were all on the line,” said Cohen, “and Judge Walker gave them a lifeline.”
“It is probably the last chance for our clients to be able to breathe back in them. They were all on a string and Judge Walker gave them a lifeline.”
Walker’s decision applies only to the bars and restaurants participating in the process, WIVB reported.
Earlier this month, Hogan-Willig sued Governor Andrew Cuomo, asking a judge to make the state comply with its December request for access to state data on coronavirus transmission.
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Cohen said at the time that the company wanted evidence that restrictions on the state’s coronavirus were justified by scientific data, the WIVB reported.
Cuomo’s office responded at the time saying it was withholding comments until it could review the process, and said any government allegations of “deception or obfuscation” were “simply incorrect”.