OXNARD, California – It’s almost a month since Ventura County took legal action against several gyms and restaurants for violating COVID health orders. One business owner fights back and takes their case to a federal court.
Mrs. Olson’s coffee shop in Oxnard operates outside and inside despite health orders. But staying open was a struggle.
“I’ve been through so many threats through the province,” said Matt Brimigion, the owner of Ms. Olson’s Coffee Hut, said. “They tried to evict me and did everything in their power to call me a public nuisance.”
Ventura County has imposed orders against more than a dozen local businesses for violating health orders. The iconic breakfast place was one of them, but owner Matt Brimigion fought back in court on Tuesday.
“We went to court for the charges the province filed against me because it was a public nuisance,” Brimigion said. ‘And for the temporary restriction. We could remove those and go to a federal court. ‘
“This is a constitutional issue,” said Ronda Baldwin-Kennedy. Olsons represents, said. “They want businesses to stay closed, then they have to be compensated, as it is constitutionally required.”
Baldwin-Kennedy also represents six other local businesses facing legal action. She says the charges against Mrs. Olsen has not all been lifted and the case is pending.
“I remove all the state actions that the province has instituted and take them to federal court,” Baldwin-Kennedy said. “We just received an email this morning in which all the issues I represent have been moved to another provincial transporter and they want to talk to us and get this stuff resolved.”
Ventura County has issued a statement saying the next step is to get the federal court to agree to return the case to state court, which will take several days. Despite the controversy, customers are still showing up.
“If it’s my public doors to open my doors and serve food to the general public and have music and give people joy, I’m guilty of it,” Brimigion said.
Brimigion is fighting the province and is urging the recall of four members of the board of supervisors.
“Out of the five provincial councilors, 4 of them voted to sue my lawsuit. So what they did is unfair, so we will go after it,” Brimigion said. “We have started a recall process for the four board members who came to us.”