NJ Movie Theaters Lose Bid To Reopen Amid Coronavirus

NEW JERSEY - U.S. District Judge Brian R. Martinotti denied a request from the movie theater owners to reopen for business during the COVID-19 pandemic, but the issue is far from being resolved.

AMC Theaters and several other plaintiffs said in their lawsuit, filed July 6, that the closure of cinemas in the Garden State while churches and other venues have been permitted to reopen to the public was a violation of the businesses right to due process and equal protection. The suit named New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy and state Health Commissioner Judith Persichilli.

Martinotti said that by Aug. 4, Murphy and Persichilli must show why movie theaters must remain closed or why they must be treated differently from other venues.

The case was heard in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey.

Thanks for reading! Learn more about posting announcements or events to your local Patch site. Have a news tip you'd like to share? Or maybe you have a press release you would like to submit or a correction you'd like to request? Send an email to russ.crespolini@patch.com

Subscribe to your local Patch newsletter. You can also have them delivered to your phone screen by downloading, or by visiting the Google Play store.