Michigan's health department has been fining a mother of six $1,000 per day for keeping her cafe open in violation of stay-at-home orders issued Nov. 15, documents obtained by FOX Business show.
Amy Heikken, the owner of Café Rosetta in Calumet, refused to pay multiple $1,000 fines for keeping her cafe open for indoor dining against state orders. Now she is facing legal challenges.
Café Rosetta employs 30 people, and with snow on the ground in Michigan, Heikken can't afford to close indoor dining, Kiilunen said. He added that she can't wear a mask in line with her doctor's orders due to a thyroid condition.
Gov Whitmer on Dec. 7 extended a three-week-long, statewide COVID-19 stay-at-home order for another 12 days amid a spike in cases in the state. The restrictions initially announced on Nov. 15 ban indoor dining and in-person learning until Dec. 20.
The state's high court in October denied Whitmer's request to extend emergency powers in an effort to curb the spread of COVID-19, saying executive orders issued under the 1945 emergency powers law "are of no continuing legal effect."
Now, the Democratic governor is working with the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services order to issue statewide restrictions.
The Michigan Supreme Court in June sided with 77-year-old barber Karl Manke, who defied Whitmer's orders when he reopened his shop for business in May. Kiilunen said that if Heikken has to take her case to the Supreme Court, she will.
