Employees of Atlantic City Casinos File a Lawsuit Against the NJ Indoor Smoking Law
Angry gambling parlors in the beach town of Atlantic City filed a lawsuit against the state of New Jersey over a law that allows indoor smoking in casinos.
New Jersey has outlawed smoking in offices for over 20 years. All businesses operating in the state are subject to the ban, with the exception of casinos in Atlantic City, NJ, and a few special locations like cigar bars.
Anti-smoking activists announced legal action against New Jersey for allowing smoking to continue inside casinos during a news conference on Friday in Trenton. Public documents show that the complaint was filed in Mercer County Superior Court on April 5. Previously we’ve seen the NJ Senate Health Committee approve a bill banning smoking at all Atlantic City casinos.
The lawsuit, according to a press release from Americans for Nonsmokers’ Rights President and CEO Cynthia Hallett, increases the pressure on New Jersey lawmakers to move quickly to close the state law loophole allowing casino smoking and shield all residents from the well-established negative effects of secondhand smoke. The same safeguards that apply to other state employees should also apply to casino employees in New Jersey.
The Lawsuit Alleges Equal Protection and Safety are Violated by the Smoking Ban
Plaintiffs in court records include United Auto Workers Region 9 and Casino Employees Against Smoking’s (Harmful) Effects, or C.E.A.S.E. Among the defendants are the state health commissioner and Governor Phil Murphy.
The state is accused in the three-count lawsuit of breaching the legal rights to safety and equal protection of workers at Atlantic City casinos by exempting their locations from the 2006 Smoke-Free Air Act.
