August 13, 2021
~~
Ahern
Convention Center Held Multiple Public Gatherings in Defiance of COVID-19 Directives
Las
Vegas, NV –
Today, Attorney General Aaron D. Ford announced that the State prevailed in a
lawsuit filed by the Ahern Convention Center. Last August, the Ahern Convention
Center sued the State, challenging the Governor’s COVID-19 emergency directives
restricting the occupancy size for meeting facilities. Subsequently, as
Nevadan’s health and vaccination rates improved, the State eliminated COVID-19
occupancy restrictions and delegated those decisions to local counties.
Following
the full briefing and argument, the district court dismissed Ahern Convention
Center’s complaint with prejudice. The court ruled that the lawsuit was moot
because there were no more occupancy limits imposed by the State. Further, the
court ruled that the Ahern Convention Center failed to state a claim in this
case because the State’s actions were reasonable under these circumstances for
addressing the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Today,
the court recognized what we already knew – the state has a responsibility to
protect the lives of Nevadans,” said AG Ford. “We need to be united as Nevadans against this deadly pandemic to
defeat it, once and for all.These emergency directives are designed to keep Nevadans safe from
a deadly virus while also balancing their rights as individuals. The court
agreed that we struck the right balance with this directive, and I am proud of
my Office for their hard work in this case.”
This
matter was handled by Deputy Solicitor General Craig Newby and Deputy Attorney
General Sabrena Clinton. For further information on this case, please review
Case No. A-20-820072-B | 300 West Sahara, LLC, Plaintiff(s) vs. Stephen
Sisolak, Defendant(s) on the Eighth Judicial District Portal website.
###