Kickboxing gym owner's suit seeks compensation for COVID closure

The owner of a Franklin Borough kickboxing studio is suing Gov. Phil Murphy Thursday, claiming executive orders he issued early into the COVID-19 crisis violated parts of the Disaster Control Act.

Darlene Pallay, who operates a CKO Kickboxing franchise in Franklin, charges Murphy’s administration ignored a portion of the Disaster Control Act that requires the state government compensate to owners of properties “employed, taken or used” under the act.

In effect, the suit argues that Murphy needs to pay businesses forced to close by his March shutdown order.

“Beginning on March 16 with Executive Order 104, Governor Murphy decided to use the power given to him by the Act, to order businesses that he deemed ‘non-essential’ to close and to later reopen with severe restrictions,” said Robert Ferguson, one of Pallay’s attorneys. “But he did not follow the law, because he did not order that the affected property owners be compensated, forcing private owners to pay for a public benefit.”

The filing also charges Murphy’s orders breached the New Jersey and U.S. constitutions.

Read more: https://newjerseyglobe.com/governor/kickboxing-gym-owners-suit-seeks-compensation-for-covid-closure/