Ian Smith, co-owner of Atelis Health club in Bellmawr, New Jersey, had a memorable victory. A New Jersey court docket dismissed 80 fees in opposition to him, which stemmed from his daring choice to reopen his fitness center in direct defiance of Democrat Gov. Phil Murphy’s oppressive COVID-19 lockdown order.
The story started in Might 2020, when Smith challenged the Murphy administration’s order to reopen Atelis gyms, which he and his supporters argued had been unconstitutional and dangerous to small companies.
The battle escalated in July 2020 when law enforcement officials forcibly arrested Smith after he repeatedly violated the state’s shutdown order.
A swarm of law enforcement officials stormed by way of the doorways of Atelis Health club in Bellmawr, New Jersey, arresting the homeowners for violating Governor Murphy’s authoritarian shutdown order.
“Effectively, that was a primary,” Dowlen stated in a Fb submit. “I’ve spent the night time writing on the fitness center, my guide shoppers Ian and Frank have simply woken up, I am gathering my computer systems and notebooks, ready for the fellows to return out for some closing questions, after which a bunch of Camden County Sheriffs and the native Bellmare Police (Ok -9 items ready in a automobile) coming by way of the door…to me, sitting there, writing, myself. At the beginning, legislation enforcement officers had been courteous and respectful. Watch my video footage on nationwide channels. And tonight/this morning, I am scripting this new guide chapter proper now!!!”
Watch:
#Repost @TheAtilisGym #Ionsmith #AthleticGym
Welcome to America 2020, the place it is unlawful to feed your loved ones and get up in your constitutional rights. @govmurphy It solely took him 70 days – to lastly flex his little tyrant’s muscle tissue. pic.twitter.com/Re24pEAlvt— (@TheNiniD) July 27, 2020
The state’s aggressive response didn’t finish with the arrests. In a controversial transfer, Governor Murphy and his administration seized $165,000 from Jim’s account—funds that Smith claims had been raised by way of donations and clothes gross sales to assist Jim’s authorized battle. The act was a punitive strike meant to cripple the fitness center financially and function a stern warning to others who would possibly take into account comparable disobedience.
“Governor Phil Murphy confiscated 100% of our property right now – $165k, all of which got here from donations and attire gross sales. This wonderful comes within the midst of ongoing litigation to defend ourselves in opposition to our 80 complaints, the revocation of our enterprise license and the unconstitutional closure of the well being division. It is by no means been about safety, it is all the time been about management,” Smith stated in a January 2021 video assertion.
On Saturday, Smith introduced that the court docket had dismissed all fees with prejudice. This implies the state is totally barred from retrieving these fees in opposition to Smith and Attilis Health club, a certain win for the small enterprise proprietor and a rebuke to Governor Murphy’s authoritarian techniques.
Smith did not mince phrases, immediately difficult Governor Murphy with a phrase that has since gone viral: “Suck my D-Ok Phil Murphy.”
Smith revealed the next assertion in X:
4 years in the past right now, we reopened Atelis Health club in direct violation of an unconstitutional order by Governor Philip Murphy to shut down small companies in New Jersey.
I’ll endlessly be thankful for the assist we’ve obtained domestically, nationally and internationally for our place.
With that being stated, I’m thrilled to announce that we’ve received a serious victory in a protracted, exhausting fought battle in opposition to the state.
The court docket dismissed with prejudice all 80+ municipal citations in opposition to us for violating a governor’s order, public nuisance, disturbing the peace and working with no license. Which means that the state has no energy to revise or get well these fees.
This victory reopens the battlefield and provides us the choice to deliver again justice for the treacherous actions of Phil Murphy and his minions.
Once more, because of everybody who supported us. We could not have performed it with out you.
Particular because of our fearless attorneys – John McCann and Giancarlo Ghion. A few of the most excessive profile attorneys within the nation ran from our case – figuring out it will be a protracted, exhausting street and making them targets to look at. These two gents stood with us by way of the darkest days of the storm, did not again down and by no means as soon as thought of being in entrance of the digicam to achieve notoriety from their work.
Extra updates later.
Nobody is coming to avoid wasting you, save your self. Wave the black flag with a spit in your hand. No quarter.
Suck my dick Phil Murphy.
Necessary Announcement – Please share this submit.
4 years in the past right now, we reopened Atelis Health club in direct violation of an unconstitutional order by Governor Philip Murphy to shut down small companies in New Jersey.
The assist we’ve obtained domestically, nationally and internationally…
— Ian Smith (@iansmithfitness) May 18, 2024
