Rep. Anthony Sabatini plans to sue Pinellas County over mask mandate [View all]

[Zorro]

The lawsuit comes after top health official calls for more masks to be worn.

State Rep. Anthony Sabatini, a Republican lawyer from Howey-in-the-Hills, said he will take Pinellas County to court over the mask mandate enacted last month to help slow the spread of the coronavirus.

Sabatini will hold a news conference at the Clearwater courthouse at 11 a.m. today to announce he is suing the Pinellas County Commission “for their unlawful ordinance requiring face coverings in Pinellas County,” according to a statement. Sabatini will be “joined by renowned Constitutional attorney, co-counsel KrisAnne Hall,” the statement said.

County administrator Barry Burton said the mask ordinance is in place to help slow the spread of COVID-19.

“Our hospitals and emergency medical system is stressed from extremely high patient numbers, including COVID patients,” Burton said early Friday. “Masks help to slow the spread along with social distancing. These are simple steps we can all take to help during this pandemic.”

https://www.tampabay.com/news/health/2020/07/17/rep-anthony-sabatini-plans-to-sue-pinellas-county-over-mask-mandate/