N.J. seeks $124K in fines from gym that refused to stay closed despite pandemic order
The state is trying to collect on $123,900 in fines against the owners of a gym it says has been in “non-compliance and contempt” of state executive orders related to the coronavirus pandemic.
The owners of the Atilis Gym in Bellmawr, Camden County, have turned their defiance into a cause célèbre, have vowed to not pay the fines, and say they do not accept Gov. Phil Murphy’s authority over them.
“We don’t have any respect for Gov. Murphy,” Ian Smith, a co-owner of Atilis Gym, told NJ Advance Media on Tuesday. “He has no authority outside of the Constitutional authority. We want to be left alone. We want to run our business in peace. I don’t care about the fines. Throw me in jail, I don’t care. I’m not going to pay them.”
The state filed a motion for a $123,982 judgement against Smith and his partner Frank Trumbetti last week. Smith spoke to several conservative media outlets and published a social media post criticizing the fines and claimed the gym owed more than $1.2 million in fines.
Read more: https://www.pennlive.com/coronavirus/2020/12/nj-seeks-124k-in-fines-from-gym-that-refused-to-stay-closed-despite-pandemic-order.html
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