Tuesday, October 23, 2012

Indianapolis' Smoking Ban Set For Evidentiary Hearing in Federal Court

MEDIA ADVISORY

Date:              Wednesday, October 24, 2012 (possibly continuing the next day) 

Time:               Beginning at 9 am. 

Location:         United States Courthouse, 46 E. Ohio St, Indianapolis, IN, Room 349 

            Indianapolis' ordinance banning smoking in city bars is set for an evidentiary hearing to begin on Wednesday, October 24, 2012 in the courtroom of the Honorable Richard Young, Federal Judge of the Southern District of Indiana. 

            Counsel for the Plaintiffs will call several bar owners, a patron and others to testify about the devastating impact the ban has had on the bars' business.  Plaintiffs will also call Dr. John Dunn who will testify that there has never been, under the rules of science, a link established between secondhand smoke and health problems.  Attorneys for the City of Indianapolis are expected to counter with their own lay witnesses and medical experts. 

            The evidentiary hearing, which is expected to last two days, is being held with respect to the Plaintiffs' request for an injunction (and the City's request to dismiss that request) against the enforcement of the city's smoking ban against the Plaintiff bar owners, most of whom have small neighborhood bars that have been hit hard by the smoking ban. 

            Paul K. Ogden, one of the attorneys for the Plaintiffs, noted that, for many of the bar owners, over 85% to 90% of their customers were smokers and that, since the smoking ban was enacted on June 1st, these customers simply stopped going to bars that previously allowed smoking.  Ogden stated:  "It's sad what the City has done to these people.  Many invested their life savings to buy a small bar in a working class neighborhood so they could earn a living and socialize with friends.  Now these smoking customers are gone and, despite what city officials promised, the wave of new, nonsmoking customers going to these former smoking establishment, never materialized." 

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13 comments:

andieclark said...

I'm sure many people object this anti-smoking in bars ordinance. But if there's a will, there's a way, so I think they can request to at least allow the use of electronic cigarettes since it's not dangerous to health. Having a compromise would better suit both parties.

Xander Lawson said...

You do have a point there Andie. The question there is if they will allow the e cigarette liquid compromise.

Unknown said...

I'm pretty sure they will. I learned that an e liquid cigarette has adjustable nicotine level. Some e-cigarettes are even void of any nicotine substance just so that smokers can achieve the sensation of smoking a cigar without any unhealthy consequence on their end.

Unknown said...

I guess smoking is already prohibited in places like bars, restaurants, parks and shopping malls, a lot of people find this frustrating but with the use of electronic cigarettes you don't have to worry about these bans.

Unknown said...

These bans are beneficial for us, it is true that smokers find this frustrating as they can't smoke freely, i am sure many people will either quit smoking or move to alternates like electronic cigarette.

Unknown said...

A lot would disagree with this idea, but I know my new york cosmetic dentist would support this one, for them smoking is not only dangerous to your health but also to a man’s oral health.

Unknown said...

It is not an easy thing to quit smoking, the cravings doesn't let smokers do that, in my opinion promoting alternatives of smoking will be more beneficial instead of imposing such kind of bans.

Anonymous said...

I agree with Tatiana, they cannot expect that smokers will quit after they impose smoking bans. I would support them if they give alternatives, or they could post health related reviews like oral and skin care reviews.

Unknown said...

I used to be a smoker but thanks to stop smoking hypnotherapy, I was able to do so. And I will tell you this: it ain't easy. But with the right discipline and mind setting, anyone can do it.

Unknown said...

People they say they are addicted to some things. But I believe it's just all in the mind. Their brains tell them what their bodies should act, so they do. I know because I undergone a series of rehabs to condition my mind to quit quit smoking perth.

Unknown said...

All the dentists I know even a rogers ar dentist are certainly against smoking cause they can''t see any benefits from it. Me too, I think it's very unhealthy for us besides it also pollutes our environment.

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