Van Hollen
MADISON, Wis. (Legal Newsline) - Wisconsin Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen announced a judgment on Tuesday against a restaurant located near Wisconsin Dells and its owners for alleged violations of the state's safe drinking water act.
Amy Wimann and Gary Wimann, who own and do business as Newport Steakhouse, must pay $5,237 for alleged violations of Wisconsin's safe drinking water act. State law requires people who serve well water to the public to test that water to ensure that it is safe to drink.
As owners of a restaurant that serves well water to the public, the Wimanns must sample that water for bacteria and nitrate every year. The Columbia County Circuit Court found the Wimanns liable for failing to timely sample their water in 2007, 2008 and 2009.
The Wimanns allegedly failed to provide and post public notices alerting their patrons that the water had not been tested. By allegedly failing to give notice, the Wimanns denied people the information they need in order to determine for themselves whether they wish to risk consuming untested water.
The Wimanns also allegedly failed to pay the State Laboratory of Hygiene to test a sample for nitrate, so the sample results remain unknown.