BUFFALO, N.Y. (Legal Newsline) – Businesses are suing New York officials for sitting idly by while Gov. Andrew Cuomo issues his coronavirus executive orders.
In a twist on the usual challenge to governors’ social-distancing orders, the lawsuit filed Aug. 7 in Buffalo federal court by nine bars accuses Attorney General Letitia James, the New York Assembly and the New York Senate of not doing their jobs.
The plaintiffs say there have been at least 56 executive orders from Cuomo that haven’t been reviewed or debated by James or lawmakers.
“James and Governor Cuomo have violated their respective oaths of office, and have permitted the State of New York to take on the governmental attributes of a monarchy whereby governmental legislative authority rests in the hands of a single person, the Governor, rather than in the 150 duly elected members of the New York State Assembly and 63 duly elected members of the New York Senate,” the lawsuit says.
HoganWillig is representing the bars. The complaint says Cuomo has created inconsistent reopening schedules that permit some businesses but not others from opening. Plaintiffs that are bowling alleys, pool halls and gyms complain they are not part of any reopening plan.
“The so-called executive orders are vague, inconsistent and contradictory, resulting in operational chaos for the plaintiffs herein,” the suit says.