In a recent development, the attorney representing a gym owner in South Jersey revealed on Tuesday that the more than 80 summonses issued against the owner for defying Governor Murphy’s lockdown orders at the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic have been dismissed by a local court four years later.
Ian Smith and his partner Frank Trumbetti are the co-owners of Atilis Gym in Bellmawr, New Jersey. Back in May 2020, at the beginning of the pandemic, the two men chose to keep their gym operational despite Governor Murphy’s orders, resulting in the issuance of more than 80 summonses.
On May 18, Smith took to social media to announce, “The court has dismissed over 80 violations of Governor’s orders, disrupting public order, disturbing peace, and operating without a license against us.”
John McCann, one of the representatives for Smith and Trumbetti, confirmed the court’s decision to NJ.com.
McCann explained that Atilis Gym did not make money through membership fees during the pandemic. Instead, the facility served as the campaign headquarters for Republican U.S. Senate candidate Rik Mehta, who challenged Cory Booker for the senatorial seat during that time.
The non-cooperative stance of Atilis Gym towards the local and state authorities had sparked frustration. Following a vote by the Bellmawr Town Council, the gym’s operating license was revoked in August 2020.
At one point, the State Attorney General’s office had suggested that if the owners of Atilis did not cease operations, they could face fines of up to $10,000 a day and imprisonment. Following a court ruling on the state fines, the gym was ordered to pay substantial fines for violating public health emergency orders issued by Murphy and the state Health Commissioner, Judith Persichilli.
The State Attorney General’s office confirmed to NJ101.5 that as of Wednesday, Atilis Gym has paid $174,457 in fines to the state Health Department and still owes $83,987.
Despite the separation of state and municipal cases, McCann is now considering pursuing the return of the state fines paid by the gym owner based on the dismissal of the local charges.
Smith’s defiance of the pandemic restrictions garnered sympathy from the conservative circles, with the gym raising over $500,000 in online donations through GoFundMe in its first year of legal battles for “court relief” and other expenses.
Smith expressed gratitude, saying, “I will forever be thankful for the local, national, and international support we’ve received for standing our ground.”