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COMMONWEALTH OF KENTUCKY

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BOONE CIRCUIT COURT
CASE NO. 20-CI-00678
Electronically filed

FLORENCE SPEEDWAY, INC., et al.

Plaintiffs

v.

NORTHERN KENTUCKY INDEPENDENT


HEALTH DISTRICT, et al.

Defendants

COMMONWEALTH OF KENTUCKY EX REL. ATTORNEY GENERAL


DANIEL CAMERON’S MOTION TO INTERVENE

The Commonwealth of Kentucky, by and through Attorney General Daniel

Cameron, respectfully moves to intervene in this action as a matter of right to protect

the constitutional rights of the Commonwealth’s citizenry. See CR 24.01;

Commonwealth ex rel. Beshear v. Commonwealth ex rel. Bevin, 498 S.W.3d 355, 361

(Ky. 2016).

Under CR 24.01, “[u]pon timely application, anyone shall be permitted to

intervene in an action . . . when a statute confers an unconditional right to intervene.”

The court may also grant permissive intervention, upon a timely motion, “(a) when a

statute confers a conditional right to intervene or (b) when an applicant’s claim or

defense and the main action have a question of law or fact in common.” CR 24.02. The

Commonwealth’s motion satisfies both rules.

1
I. The Attorney General, on behalf of the Commonwealth, may intervene

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as of right.

The Commonwealth has a statutory right to intervene sufficient for purposes

of CR 24.01 because, under KRS 15.020, the Attorney General shall “enter his

appearance in all cases, hearings, and proceedings in and before all other courts,

tribunals, or commissions in or out of the state, and attend to all litigation and legal

business in or out of the state required of him by law, or in which the Commonwealth

has an interest[.]” Moreover, the Attorney General shall “exercise all common law

duties and authority pertaining to the office of the Attorney General under the

common law, except when modified by statutory enactment.” Id. “It is unquestioned

that at common law, the Attorney General had the power to institute, conduct and

maintain suits and proceedings for the enforcement of the laws of the state, the

preservation of order, and the protection of public rights.” Beshear, 498 S.W.3d at

362. Among those powers inherent in the Office of Attorney General is “the power to

initiate a suit questioning the constitutionality or legality of an executive action.” Id.

at 363.

On June 22, 2020, Plaintiffs filed an amended complaint seeking judicial

review of a series of executive orders issued by Governor Beshear. 1 The amended

complaint alleges that Governor Beshear, and his subordinate officers, have violated

multiple provisions of Kentucky’s constitution. Among other allegations, Plaintiffs

1 The initial complaint was filed only several days earlier, on June 16, 2020, naming only
the Northern Kentucky Independent Health District as a defendant. It was not until June
22, 2020, that Plaintiffs amended their complaint to seek relief against the state officials
central to the alleged constitutional violations.
2
allege that Governor Beshear has 1) acted arbitrarily, in violation of Section 2 of the

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Kentucky Constitution; 2) violated the separation of powers doctrine contained in

Sections 27 and 28 of the Kentucky Constitution; 3) exceeded his statutory authority

to act pursuant to KRS 39A.100 under these facts; and 4) violated the rule making

procedures provided by KRS Chapter 13A.

On behalf of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, Attorney General Cameron,

agrees with that Plaintiffs that the Governor’s executive orders are constitutionally

suspect. Because “the Attorney General’s primary obligation is to the

Commonwealth, the body politic, rather than to its officers, departments,

commissions, or agencies,” the Attorney General Cameron, moves to intervene as of

right on behalf of the Commonwealth and its citizens. Beshear, 498 S.W.3d at 363.

II. The Court should grant the Attorney General, on behalf of the
Commonwealth of Kentucky, permissive intervention.

The Commonwealth, by and through Attorney General Cameron, also satisfies

the elements for permissive intervention. The Commonwealth asserts claims against

the same group of state officials for violating the constitutional rights of Kentuckians

by issuing several overbroad and illegal executive orders shutting down the

businesses and livelihood of citizens across the state. These claims arise from the

same unconstitutional actions by the defendants and involve overlapping legal issues.

Because the Commonwealth’s claims involve “a question of law or fact in common,”

permissive intervention is appropriate. CR 24.02.

3
III. The Attorney General’s motion is timely.

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Both intervention as of right and permissive intervention require a timely

motion, which this motion is. The Commonwealth is moving to intervene less than

ten days after Plaintiffs filed their amended complaint. At the time of this motion,

the Defendants have yet to file an answer, or other responsive pleading, and there

has been no discovery. See Government Employees Ins. Co., v. Winsett, 153 S.W.3d

862 (Ky. App. 2004) (holding that an insurance company’s motion to intervene was

timely when “[n]o judgment, settlement or other event has occurred disposing of the

case at [the] time” the motion was filed). This motion is therefore timely.

Wherefore Attorney General Daniel Cameron, on behalf of the Commonwealth

of Kentucky, respectfully moves this Court to grant its motion to intervene. As

required by Rule 24.03, an intervening complaint accompanies this motion.

Respectfully submitted,

Daniel Cameron
ATTORNEY GENERAL

/s/ Barry L. Dunn


Barry L. Dunn (No. 93787) Office of the Attorney General
Deputy Attorney General 700 Capital Avenue, Suite 118
S. Chad Meredith (No. 92138) Frankfort, Kentucky 40601
Solicitor General Phone: (502) 696-5300
Brett R. Nolan (No. 95617) Barry.Dunn@ky.gov
Special Litigation Counsel Chad.Meredith@ky.gov
Aaron J. Silletto (No. 89035) Brett.Nolan@ky.gov
Heather L. Becker (No. 94360) Aaron.Silletto@ky.gov
Marc Manley (No. 96786) Heather.Becker@ky.gov
Assistant Attorneys General Marc.Manley@ky.gov

Counsel for the Commonwealth of


Kentucky ex rel. Attorney General Daniel
Cameron

4
NOTICE

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With leave of Court, this motion to intervene shall come on for a hearing before
the Boone Circuit Court on July 1, 2020, at 1 p.m., or as soon thereafter as counsel
may be heard.

CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE

I certify that on June 30, 2020, a copy of the above was filed electronically with
the Court and served through the Court’s electronic filing system and was served by
U.S. Mail, postage prepaid on July 1, 2020, on the following:

Christopher Wiest Thomas Bruns


25 Town Center Blvd, Suite 104 4750 Ashwood Drive, Suite 200
Crestview Hills, KY 41017 Cincinnati, OH 45241
Counsel for Plaintiff Counsel for the Plaintiff

Robert A. Winter, Jr. Steven Stack, M.D.


P.O. Box 175883 275 E. Main Street
Fort Mitchell, KY 41017 Frankfort, KY 40621
Counsel for the Plaintiff

Hon. Andrew Beshear, Governor Cabinet for Health and Family Services
Commonwealth of Kentucky 275 E. Main Street
700 Capitol Avenue, Suite 100 Frankfort, KY 40621
Frankfort, KY 40601

Secretary Eric Friedlander Dr. Lynne Saddler, M.D.,


Cabinet for Health and Family Services District Director of Health
275 E. Main Street Northern Kentucky Independent
Frankfort, KY 40621 Health District
8001 Veterans Memorial Drive
Florence, KY 41042

Jeffrey C. Mando
Claire E. Parsons
Olivia Amlung
40 West Pike Street
Covington, KY 41011
Counsel for Northern Kentucky
Independent Health District

/s/ Barry L. Dunn


Counsel for the Commonwealth of Kentucky

5
COMMONWEALTH OF KENTUCKY

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BOONE CIRCUIT COURT
DIVISION I
CASE NO. 20-CI-00678
Electronically filed

FLORENCE SPEEDWAY, INC., et al.

Plaintiffs

and

COMMONWEALTH OF KENTUCKY, ex rel.


ATTORNEY GENERAL DANIEL CAMERON

Intervening Plaintiff

v.

NORTHERN KENTUCKY INDEPENDENT


HEALTH DISTRICT, et al.,

Defendants

COMMONWEALTH OF KENTUCKY EX REL. ATTORNEY GENERAL


DANIEL CAMERON’S INTERVENING COMPLAINT FOR
DECLARATION OF RIGHTS AND INJUNCTIVE RELIEF

On behalf of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, Attorney General Daniel

Cameron brings this action for a declaration of rights and injunctive relief against

Andrew Beshear, in his official capacity as the Governor of Kentucky, Eric

Friedlander, in his official capacity as the Secretary of the Cabinet for Health and

1
Family Services, and Steven Stack, M.D., in his official capacity as the Commissioner

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for Public Health,1 and states as follows:

INTRODUCTION

1. There are nearly 4.5 million people in Kentucky. 2 And although

Kentucky has three branches of government, with a General Assembly composed of

38 senators and 100 representatives, right now nearly every aspect of the lives and

livelihoods of those 4.5 million Kentuckian is purportedly governed by one man, and

his political appointees: Governor Andrew Beshear.

2. Through a series of overbroad and overreaching executive orders,

Governor Andrew Beshear is micromanaging Kentucky’s economy and the daily lives

of every Kentucky citizen.3 He has ordered private industry to open and close at his

will. He has ordered churches closed and religious gatherings to disperse. And, with

each passing day, he subjects Kentuckians to increasing uncertainty about how he

will wield the breathtaking authority he claims. Citizens all over the state have no

way to predict what’s next, and no control over fundamental parts of their lives.

3. But it doesn’t have to be this way. And under Kentucky’s Constitution

and Kentucky law, it shouldn’t be. “While the law may take periodic naps during a

1 Unless expressly noted or the context indicates otherwise, reference to “Governor Beshear”
includes Secretary Friedlander and Commissioner Stack.
2 United States Census Bureau, Quick Facts: Kentucky, available at
https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/KY (last visited June 30, 2020).
3 As used throughout this Complaint, “executive orders” encompasses any form of directives,
however styled, that purport to govern members of the public.

2
pandemic, we will not let it sleep through one.” Roberts v. Neace, 958 F.3d 409, 414–

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15 (6th Cir. 2020). The time of unfettered and arbitrary executive power must end.

NATURE OF ACTION

4. This Complaint for a Declaration of Rights and Injunctive Relief is

governed by the Kentucky Declaratory Judgment Act, KRS 418.010, et seq., and

Kentucky Rule of Civil Procedure (“CR”) 57.

5. KRS 418.040 provides that where “an actual controversy exists, the

plaintiff may ask for a declaration of rights, either alone or with other relief; and the

court may make a binding declaration of rights, whether or not consequential relief

is or could be asked.”

6. An actual and justiciable controversy exists in this action.

7. Given the grave concerns set forth in this Complaint, the

Commonwealth respectfully requests expedited review under KRS 418.050 and CR

57.

PARTIES

8. Daniel Cameron is the duly elected Attorney General of the

Commonwealth of Kentucky. He is the lawyer for the people of Kentucky. KRS

15.020; Commonwealth ex rel. Beshear v. Commonwealth ex rel. Bevin, 498 S.W.3d

355, 362 (Ky. 2016). As the chief law officer of the Commonwealth, Attorney General

Cameron has standing to challenge the “authority for and constitutionality of the

Governor’s actions.” Beshear, 498 S.W.3d at 363. And as the lawyer for the people,

Attorney General Cameron brings this suit on behalf of the Commonwealth of

Kentucky to restore constitutional order and the rule of law in the Commonwealth.
3
9. Governor Andrew Beshear is the Commonwealth’s “Chief Magistrate,”

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Ky. Const. § 69, and is charged with “tak[ing] care that the laws be faithfully

executed,” Ky. Const. § 81.

10. The Cabinet for Health and Family Services “is the primary state

agency for operating the public health . . . programs in the Commonwealth,” KRS

194A.010, and must, when it “believes that there is a probability that any infectious

or contagious disease will invade this state . . . take such action and adopt and enforce

such rules and regulations as it deems efficient in preventing the introduction or

spread of such infectious or contagious disease or diseases within this state.” KRS

214.020.

11. Eric Friedlander is the Secretary of the Cabinet for Health and Family

Services.

12. Steven Stack, M.D. is the Commissioner for the Kentucky Department

of Public Health.

JURISDICTION & VENUE

13. This Court has jurisdiction over this action under Section 112(5) of the

Kentucky Constitution, KRS 23A.010(1), and KRS 418.040.

14. Venue for this action is proper in this Court under KRS 452.405(2) and

KRS 452.480.

4
FACTUAL BACKGROUND

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Since March 6, 2020, Governor Beshear and his appointees have taken
aggressive action to micromanage nearly every aspect of life in Kentucky
by executive order.

15. On March 6, 2020, Governor Beshear issued Executive Order 2020-215. 4

In that order, he purported to rely on KRS Chapter 39A to declare a state of

emergency in the Commonwealth, though only one confirmed case of the novel

coronavirus existed throughout the entire Commonwealth at that time. 5

16. Since his initial order, Governor Beshear and his political appointees

have issued a dizzying array of executive orders, guidance documents, and

recommendations addressing increasingly granular matters of daily life in Kentucky.

17. On March 16, 2020, Secretary Friedlander issued an order limiting all

food and beverage sales to carry-out, delivery, and drive-thru service only. The order

relied on the Governor’s authority in KRS 39A.100(1)(f),(h), and (j), as well as KRS

194A.025, KRS 214.020, KRS 241.090, and KRS 244.120.

18. On March 17, 2020, Secretary Friedlander issued an order requiring the

closure of all “public-facing businesses that encourage congregation.” The order

mandated the closure of entertainment, hospitality and recreational facilities,

4 Executive Order 202-215, available at


http://apps.sos.ky.gov/Executive/Journal/execjournalimages/2020-MISC-2020-0215-266310.pdf (last
visited June 30, 2020). With two exceptions, the executive orders cited herein are in the record as
exhibits to Plaintiffs’ Amended Complaint or Motion for a Temporary Restraining Order.
5 Executive Order 2020-220, available at
http://apps.sos.ky.gov/Executive/Journal/execjournalimages/2020-MISC-2020-0220-266317.pdf (last
visited June 30, 2020).

5
community and recreation centers, gyms and exercise facilities, hair salons, nail

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salons, spas, concert venues, theaters, and sporting event facilities.

19. On March 18, 2020, Governor Beshear issued Executive Order 2020-

243,6 regarding social distancing. The order purported to promote social distancing,

but interpreted that term as “meaning staying home when possible.” The order,

relying on KRS 39A.180, purported to suspend all statutes and regulations requiring

in-person meetings or appearances in conflict with the Governor’s social distancing

guidance. Without citation, the Governor apparently relied on his authority under

KRS 39A.100(1)(j). Broad in scope, the order suspended, without specific reference,

the Open Meetings Act.

20. On March 19, 2020, in an attempt to mitigate the disastrous economic

impact of Secretary Friedlander’s March 16, 2020 order mandating carry-out food and

beverage service, Public Protection Cabinet Secretary Kerry Harvey suspended

Kentucky’s alcohol sales laws with respect to onsite consumption of alcoholic

beverages, converting all on-premises liquor licenses to off-premises liquor licenses.

21. On March 19, 2020, Secretary Friedlander issued an order banning all

mass gatherings. Relying on KRS 194A.025, KRS 214.020, and KRS Chapter 39A

generally, the order prohibited the gathering or convening of individuals for the

following purposes: community, civil, public, leisure, faith-based, or sporting events,

parades, concerts, festivals, conventions, fundraisers, and similar activities. The

6 Executive Order 2020-243, available at


http://apps.sos.ky.gov/Executive/Journal/execjournalimages/2020-MISC-2020-0243-266356.pdf (last
visited June 30, 2020).

6
order exempted the following gatherings: normal operations at airports, bus and train

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stations, medical facilities, libraries, shopping malls and centers, other spaces where

persons may be in transit, typical office environments, factories, or retail or grocery

stores where large numbers of people.

22. On March 22, 2020, Governor Beshear issued Executive Order 2020-

246,7 which closed all businesses he deemed “non-life sustaining.” The Governor’s

value judgment on “non-life sustaining” business required the closure of all in-person

retail businesses, excepting grocery stores, pharmacies, banks, hardware stores, and

other businesses that provide staple goods. Without citation, the Governor apparently

relied on his authority under KRS 39A.100(1)(j).

23. On March 23, 2020, Secretary Friedlander issued an order requiring all

non-emergent, non-urgent in-person medical, surgical, dental, and other healthcare

practice or procedures to have ceased on March 18, 2020. As authority, the order cited

KRS 194A.025, KRS 214.020, and KRS Chapter 39A generally. Despite this order,

the Governor and the Cabinet permitted the continued operation of abortion facilities.

24. On March 25, 2020, Governor Beshear issued Executive Order 2020-

257,8 expanding on Executive Order 2020-246 and banning all in-person work. The

order, essentially a shelter-in-place command, introduced the Governor’s “Healthy at

7 Executive Order 2020-257, available at


https://governor.ky.gov/attachments/20200322_Executive-Order_2020-246_Retail.pdf (last visited
June 30, 2020).
8 Executive Order 2020-257, available at
https://governor.ky.gov/attachments/20200325_Executive-Order_2020-257_Healthy-at-Home.pdf
(last visited June 30, 2020).

7
Home” branding. Without citation, the Governor apparently relied on his authority

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under KRS 39A.100(1)(j).

25. On March 30, 2020, Governor Beshear issued Executive Order 2020-

258,9 banning out-of-state travel, except in four limited circumstances. The order

further required a mandatory fourteen day self-quarantine for any Kentuckian who

traveled outside of Kentucky for a non-exempt reason.

26. On April 2, 2020, Governor Beshear issued Executive Order 2020-266, 10

which banned residents of other states from traveling into Kentucky and required

those who did travel into Kentucky to self-quarantine for fourteen days. Through

Executive Order 2020-315,11 and after being struck down by the federal courts,

Governor Beshear eased travel restrictions, allowing travel into and out of the

Commonwealth of Kentucky. Anyone intending to stay was “asked” to self-quarantine

for fourteen days. Without citation, the Governor apparently relied on his authority

under KRS 39A.100(1)(j) for all three travel-ban orders.

9 Executive Order 2020-258, available at


http://apps.sos.ky.gov/Executive/Journal/execjournalimages/2020-MISC-2020-0258-266449.pdf (last
visited June 30, 2020).
10 Executive Order 2020-266, available at
http://apps.sos.ky.gov/Executive/Journal/execjournalimages/2020-MISC-2020-0266-266459.pdf (last
visited June 30, 2020).
11 Executive Order 2020-315, available at
http://apps.sos.ky.gov/Executive/Journal/execjournalimages/2020-MISC-2020-0315-267645.pdf (last
visited June 30, 2020).

8
27. On May 22, 2020, Governor Beshear issued Executive Order 2020-415, 12

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rescinding all remaining travel restrictions from prior orders.

28. On April8, 2020, Governor Beshear issued Executive Order 2020-275, 13

limiting the number of shoppers permitted inside those life-sustaining businesses

still allowed to operate. The order limited entrance to one adult member per

household. The order also prohibited door-to-door solicitations. Without citation, the

Governor apparently relied on his authority under KRS 39A.100(1)(j).

29. After shuttering most of Kentucky throughout March and April, on May

8, 2020, Governor Beshear issued Executive Order 2020-323,14 allowing non-life

sustaining businesses to reopen so long as they did so consistent with “requirements

detailed in the Orders of the Cabinet for Health and Family Services implementing

this Executive Order and requirements for specific sectors, businesses, and

entities[.]”

30. On May 11, 2020, the Governor allowed manufacturing, distribution,

and supply chain businesses, vehicle and vessel dealerships, horse racing tracks, pet

care, grooming, and boarding businesses, photography businesses, and office-based

businesses to reopen.

12 Executive Order 2020-415, available at


http://apps.sos.ky.gov/Executive/Journal/execjournalimages/2020-MISC-2020-0415-267794.pdf (last
visited June 30, 2020).
13 Executive Order 2020-275, available at
http://apps.sos.ky.gov/Executive/Journal/execjournalimages/2020-MISC-2020-0275-266477.pdf (last
visited June 30, 2020).
14 Executive Order 2020-323, available at
http://apps.sos.ky.gov/Executive/Journal/execjournalimages/2020-MISC-2020-0323-267678.pdf (last
visited June 30, 2020).

9
31. On May 20, 2020, Governor Beshear issued Executive Order 2020-398, 15

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allowing in-person retail business to reopen so long as they did so consistent with

“the minimum requirements for all entities in the Commonwealth of Kentucky under

Executive Order 2020-323 and as implemented by the May 11, 2020 Order of the

Cabinet for Health and Family Services.”

32. On May 22, 2020, Secretary Friedlander issued an order amending his

prior orders of March 16, 2020, and March 17, 2020, to allow in-person dining at

restaurants subject to social distancing, capacity, and cleaning guidelines. 16

33. And as of May 25, 2020, cosmetology businesses, hair salons and

barbershops, massage therapy businesses, nail salons, tanning salons, and tattoo

parlors could reopen subject to social distancing, capacity, and cleaning guidelines.

As authority, the order cited KRS 194A.025, KRS 214.020, and Executive Orders

2020-215 and 2020-323.

34. On June 3, 2020, Secretary Friedlander issued an order, amending his

prior orders of May 22, 2020, March 16, 2020, and March 17, 2020, to allow auctions,

auto/dirt track racing, aquatic centers, bowling alleys, fishing tournaments, fitness

centers, and movie theaters to reopen subject to social distancing, capacity, and

cleaning guidelines. As authority, his order cited KRS 194A.025, KRS 214.020, and

Executive Orders 2020-215 and 2020-323.

15 Executive Order 2020-398, available at


http://apps.sos.ky.gov/Executive/Journal/execjournalimages/2020-MISC-2020-0257-266413.pdf (last
visited June 30, 2020), and attached as Exhibit 1.
16 Friedlander Order, dated May 22, 2020, attached as Exhibit 2.

10
35. On June 8, 2020, Secretary Friedlander issued an order, amending his

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prior orders of May 22, 2020, March 16, 2020, and March 17, 2020, to allow

educational and cultural activities, horse shows, and in-home childcare to reopen

subject to social distancing, capacity, and cleaning guidelines. As authority, his order

cited KRS 194A.025, KRS 214.020, and Executive Orders 2020-215 and 2020-323.

36. On June 15, 2020, Secretary Friedlander issued an order, amending his

prior orders of May 22, 2020, March 16, 2020, and March 17, 2020, to allow childcare,

youth sports and athletic activities to reopen subject to social distancing, capacity,

and cleaning guidelines. As authority, the Secretary cited KRS 194A.025, KRS

214.020, and Executive Orders 2020-215 and 2020-323.

37. The courts seem to be the only way for Kentuckians to have their voices

heard. Despite making national news for repeatedly violating the rights of the

citizens, Governor Beshear has consistently refused to curtail his overreach until a

court orders him to do so.

38. And on that front, Governor Beshear’s micromanaging of the lives and

rights of Kentuckians has not been well-received by the courts. Time after time,

Kentuckians have had to resort to costly litigation to stop the Governor’s oppressive

actions. And time after time, those Kentuckians have prevailed. Virtually every court

considering a constitutional challenge to one of Governor Beshear’s orders during this

state of emergency has declared it unconstitutional and enjoined him from further

enforcement.

11
39. Governor Beshear first made national waves when he ordered the

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Kentucky State Police to Maryville Baptist Church to record the license plate of any

person attending church on Easter Weekend. Maryville filed suit claiming that the

Governor’s ban on mass gatherings unconstitutionally targeted religious

organizations for disfavored treatment.

40. The Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals agreed with the church. Twice.

41. The court first enjoined the Governor from enforcing his ban on mass

gatherings against Maryville’s drive-in services. Maryville Baptist Church, Inc. v.

Beshear, 957 F.3d 610 (6th Cir. 2020). In doing so, the court’s unanimous, three-judge

panel explained that the Governor’s ban on mass gatherings had “several potential

hallmarks of discrimination.” Id. at 614. Even though the Court did not “doubt the

Governor’s sincerity in trying to do his level best to lessen the spread of the virus or

his authority to protect the Commonwealth’s citizens,” id., the Constitution prevailed

and the court enjoined his order.

42. The Governor brazenly responded by declaring victory, claiming that the

Sixth Circuit did not completely enjoin his ban on religious gatherings.

43. Unimpressed, the Sixth Circuit enjoined him again one week later. See

Roberts v. Neace, 958 F.3d 409 (6th Cir. 2020). This time, the court unanimously

prohibited the Governor from enforcing his order against all of Maryville’s religious

services, both drive-in and in-person.

44. At the same time, a federal court in Frankfort entered a statewide

injunction against the Governor on the same issue. See Tabernacle Baptist Church,

12
Inc. of Nicholasville, Ky. v. Beshear, No. 3:20-CV-33-GFVT, 2020 WL 2305307 (E.D.

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Ky. May 8, 2020). The court found that Governor Beshear likely violated the Free

Exercise Clause with his mass-gathering ban. Id. at *5.

45. Governor Beshear has also been sued and enjoined over his travel ban.

See Roberts v. Neace, No. 2:20CV054 (WOB-CJS), 2020 WL 2115358 (E.D. Ky. May 4,

2020); see also W.O. v. Beshear, No. 3:20-CV-00023-GFVT (E.D. Ky.). Several

Kentuckians sued the Governor over the ban almost immediately, raising serious

constitutional concerns over the stunning breadth of the restrictions. For over a

month, the Governor refused to modify even one word of his order to address the

legitimate concerns of the citizens of the Commonwealth. Then, a federal court in

Northern Kentucky declared it unconstitutional and the Governor responded with a

complete retreat, rescinding all of the mandatory provisions in his unconstitutional

order.

46. Governor Beshear’s response to the travel litigation is emblematic of his

reign over Kentucky during the pandemic. He made no effort to revise his order or

address the legitimate concerns of the citizens until a federal court ordered him to do

so.

47. The same problem arose when the Governor banned political protests at

the state Capitol. In response to several groups gathering to protest the way in which

the Governor has exercised arbitrary authority over the Commonwealth and its

citizens, Governor Beshear barricaded the traditionally open grounds of the Capitol

to prevent further political gatherings. Several protesters filed suit, and a federal

13
court in Frankfort again enjoined the Governor from enforcing his unconstitutional

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ban on mass gatherings against political protesters. Ramsek v. Beshear, No. 3:20-CV-

00036-GFVT, 2020 WL 3446249 (E.D. Ky. June 24, 2020).

48. Just like his response to the travel-ban litigation, the Governor refused

to make any concessions or exceptions to the legitimate concerns of the protesters. He

even went so far as to argue that the suit should be dismissed because he did not

intend to enforce the ban against these particular protesters while refusing to modify

one word of his ban on mass gatherings. The Sixth Circuit rejected his attempt to

avoid litigation without addressing the issues, and the district court in Frankfort

followed suit with an injunction in which the Governor was ordered to modify his

unconstitutional order. See Ramsek, 2020 WL 3446249, at *11–12.

49. This has been the persistent pattern for Governor Beshear: Exercising

broad, unfettered, and unlawful authority over the daily lives of Kentuckians and

refusing to listen to or compromise over serious issues raised by citizens. Only when

a court orders him to do so does the Governor make any effort at protecting the

constitutional rights of Kentuckians.

50. Against this backdrop and amid the cumbersome, overlapping,

inconsistent, unreasonable, and arbitrary restrictions imposed by the Governor, the

Attorney General, on behalf of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, brings these claims

to challenge the Governor’s continued exercise of arbitrary power unconstrained by

any law.

14
COUNT I – DECLARATORY JUDGMENT AND INJUNCTIVE RELIEF:

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The Governor has not properly invoked his authority under KRS 39A.100.

51. The Commonwealth incorporates each of the preceding paragraphs.

52. To guard against all major hazards, KRS Chapter 39A through 39F are

intended to “confer upon the Governor, the county judges/executive of the counties,

the mayors of the cities and urban-county governments of the Commonwealth, and

the chief executive of other local governments” certain emergency authority. KRS

39A.010(2).

53. The provisions in KRS Chapters 39A through 39F envision a

streamlined, integrated emergency management system of cooperation of state and

local government that ensures continuity and effectiveness of our public institutions

in times of emergency, disaster, or catastrophe. See generally KRS 39A.010, KRS

39A.020, and KRS 39A.030.

54. KRS 39A.100(1) provides that “[i]n the event of the occurrence or

threatened or impending occurrence of any of the situations or events contemplated

by KRS 39A.010, 39A.020, or 39A.030, the Governor may declare, in writing, that a

state of emergency exists.” And during a state of emergency, the Governor has and

may exercise those powers specifically enumerated and granted to him in KRS

39A.100(1) (in a manner that does not otherwise violate law).

55. According to KRS 39A.020(12), however, “emergency” means “any

incident or situation which poses a major threat to public safety so as to cause, or

threaten to cause, loss of life, serious injury, significant damage to property, or major

15
harm to public health or the environment and which a local emergency response

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agency determines is beyond its capabilities” (emphasis added).

56. Thus, before the Governor may exercise those powers listed in KRS

39A.100(1) in any jurisdiction within the Commonwealth, two things must occur:

first, a situation that poses a major threat to public safety so as to cause, or threaten

to cause, loss of life; and, second, the local emergency response agency must

determine that the situation “is beyond its capabilities.” KRS 39A.100(1).

57. Governor Beshear is familiar with this statutory prerequisite to the use

of these expanded, emergency powers. In an opinion issued by his office just last year,

then-Attorney General Andrew Beshear considered whether a county judge/executive

could invoke the emergency powers of KRS Chapters 39A–39F to fill the position of

County Road Supervisor. Then-Attorney General Beshear consulted the definition of

“emergency” in KRS 39A.020(12) and determined that even if the vacancy posed a

major threat to public safety, it was “not a circumstance that a local emergency

response agency would determine to be beyond its capabilities.” Ky. OAG No. 19-021,

2019 WL 6445355 (Nov. 18, 2019).

58. Like the judge/executive in OAG No. 19-021, the Governor has not

shown that any local emergency response agency in the Commonwealth—much less,

every local agency—has determined that the situation caused by the novel

coronavirus “is beyond its capabilities.” KRS 39A.100(1). Thus, the Governor has no

authority to invoke the powers set forth in KRS 39A.100(1) in an effort to

commandeer the entire Commonwealth.

16
59. Therefore, the Commonwealth respectfully requests a declaration that

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the Governor’s executive orders purportedly issued under his KRS Chapter 39A

authority are invalid and without legal effect in all those counties where the local

emergency response agency has not determined that the situation “is beyond its

capabilities.” KRS 39A.100(1).17

60. The Commonwealth seeks injunctive relief under CR 65, including a

restraining order, a temporary injunction, and a permanent injunction, prohibiting

the Defendants from enforcing any of the Governor’s executive orders issued under

KRS Chapter 39A.

COUNT II – DECLARATORY JUDGMENT AND INJUNCTIVE RELIEF:


By refusing to reasonably tailor his orders to the location and needs of the
emergency, the Governor has violated §§ 1 and 2 of the Kentucky
Constitution and KRS Chapter 39A.

61. The Commonwealth incorporates each of the preceding paragraphs.

62. Section 1 of the Kentucky Constitution provides:

All men are, by nature, free and equal, and have certain inherent
and inalienable rights, among which may be reckoned:

First: The right of enjoying and defending their lives and liberties.

Second: The right of worshipping Almighty God according to the


dictates of their consciences.

Third: The right of seeking and pursuing their safety and


happiness.

Fourth: The right of freely communicating their thoughts and


opinions.

17 Kentucky’s counties and cities have not been affected by the pandemic in identical ways.
Permitting the local emergency response agency to determine when to request assistance from the
Commonwealth helps to tailor the Commonwealth’s response and marshal the Commonwealth’s
resources to where they are needed.

17
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Fifth: The right of acquiring and protecting property.

Sixth: The right of assembling together in a peaceable manner for


their common good, and of applying to those invested with the
power of government for redress of grievances or other proper
purposes, by petition, address or remonstrance.

Seventh: The right to bear arms in defense of themselves and of


the State, subject to the power of the General Assembly to enact
laws to prevent persons from carrying concealed weapons.

63. Section 2 of the Kentucky Constitution provides: “Absolute and

arbitrary power over the lives, liberty and property of freemen exists nowhere in a

republic, not even in the largest majority.”

64. KRS Chapter 39A premises the Governor’s emergency powers on “the

occurrence or threatened or impending occurrence of any of the situations

contemplated by KRS 39A.010, 39A.020, or 39A.030,” such as a disaster, emergency,

or catastrophe.

65. Despite statutory language that requires specificity and precision, the

Governor has declared a state of emergency throughout the Commonwealth and has

not distinguished between locations due to severity of the pandemic.

66. Kentucky has experienced extreme differences in infection rate from

county-to-county and region-to-region. Not until June 29, 2020, nearly four months

after the state of emergency was declared, did Robertson County experience its first

confirmed case of COVID-19.18 As the graphic below illustrates, the Governor’s

18 Beshear reports 117 new COVID-19 Cases, Two Deaths; Robertson County Reports First Case,
Northern Ky. Tribune (June 30, 2020), available at: https://www.nkytribune.com/2020/06/117-new-

18
COVID-19 website19 shows that as of June 30, 2020, 27 counties have ten or fewer

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confirmed cases, while 45 counties have 50 or fewer confirmed cases:

67. As of June 30, 2020, 15,642 of the Commonwealth’s nearly 4.5 million

residents (or approximately 0.3%) of the population has been diagnosed with COVID-

19, though unfortunately, 565 deaths have been linked to COVID-19.

68. Sections 1 and 2 of the Kentucky Constitution and KRS Chapter 39A

require the Governor to tailor the declaration of a state of emergency and the response

thereto in a way that reasonably addresses the actual emergency.

covid-cases-two-deaths-robertson-county-reports-case-now-all-120-counties-have-cases/ (last visited


June 30, 2020).
19 See https://govstatus.egov.com/kycovid19 (last visited June 30, 2020).

19
69. By declaring a statewide emergency and refusing to tailor his orders to

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specific hotspots or concerns, Governor Beshear has violated Sections 1 and 2 of the

Kentucky Constitution and KRS Chapter 39A.

70. Therefore, the Commonwealth respectfully requests a declaration that

the Governor’s executive orders under KRS Chapter 39A must specifically identify

the grounds upon which an emergency is declared and the location of the emergency

and must be reasonably tailored in such a way that the emergency response addresses

only the emergency at the location where it exists.

71. The Commonwealth seeks injunctive relief under CR 65, including a

restraining order, a temporary injunction, and a permanent injunction, prohibiting

the Defendants from enforcing any of the Governor’s executive orders issued under

KRS Chapter 39A that are not so tailored.

COUNT III – DECLARATORY JUDGMENT AND INJUNCTIVE RELIEF:


The Governor has used KRS Chapter 39A to unlawfully assume lawmaking
powers in violation of §§ 15, 27, and 28 of the Kentucky Constitution.

72. The Commonwealth incorporates each of the preceding paragraphs.

73. In Legislative Research Commission v. Brown, 664 S.W.2d 907, 912 (Ky.

1984), the Kentucky Supreme Court observed that “[o]ur present constitution

contains explicit provisions which, on the one hand, mandate separation among the

three branches of government, and on the other hand, specifically prohibit incursion

of one branch of government into the powers and functions of the others. Thus, our

constitution has a double-barreled, positive-negative approach.”

20
74. That “double-barreled” separation of powers is reflected in Sections 27

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and 28 of the Kentucky Constitution.

75. Section 27 provides that “[t]he powers of the government of the

Commonwealth of Kentucky shall be divided into three distinct departments, and

each of them be confined to a separate body of magistracy, to wit: Those which are

legislative, to one; those which are executive, to another; and those which are judicial,

to another.”

76. Moreover, “[t]he legislative, executive and judicial branches of our state

government are to operate within their respective spheres and ‘no person or collection

of persons, being of one of those departments, shall exercise any power properly

belonging to either of the others’ except as expressly directed or permitted by the

Constitution.” Beshear v. Haydon Bridge Co., 416 S.W.3d 280, 295 (Ky. 2013) (citing

Ky. Const. § 28).

77. Thus, Kentucky courts have recognized that “perhaps no state forming

part of the . . . United States has a constitution whose language more emphatically

separates and perpetuates what might be termed the American tripod form of

government than does . . . [the Kentucky] Constitution.” Beshear v. Haydon Bridge

Co., 416 S.W.3d at 295 (citing Sibert v. Garrett, 246 S.W. 455, 457 (Ky. 1922)).

78. Section 26 of the Kentucky Constitution provides that the Bill of Rights

“shall forever remain inviolate; and all laws contrary thereto, or contrary to this

Constitution, shall be void.”

21
79. The nondelegation doctrine is an outgrowth of this strong separation of

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powers. According to the doctrine, the General Assembly cannot delegate its

legislative power to the executive branch except in rare cases where certain

limitations and safeguards are implemented.

80. The “nondelegation doctrine” in Kentucky’s constitutional law is “more

restrictive of powers granted than the federal Constitution . . . . Indeed, in the area

of non-delegation, Kentucky may be unsurpassed by any state in the Union.” Board

of Trustees of the Judicial Form Ret. Sys. v. Attorney General, 132 S.W.3d 770, 782

(Ky. 2004).

81. “Kentucky is more ‘restrictive of powers granted’ than the federal

Constitution because the federal Constitution does not have a ‘provision expressly

forbidding the Congress to delegate its legislative powers,’ as do Sections 27, 28, 29,

and 60 of the Kentucky Constitution.” Id.

82. And Kentucky law mandates that “the legislature must lay down

policies and establish standards” whenever it delegates legislative power to the

executive branch.

83. KRS Chapter 39A, as interpreted and implemented by Governor

Beshear since March 6, 2019, and related to the novel coronavirus, contains none of

the constitutionally required “policies” and “standards.”

84. For example, KRS 39A.090 provides that the Governor may “make,

amend, and rescind any executive orders as deemed necessary to carry out the

provisions of KRS Chapters 39A to 39F,” but contains neither any “policy” nor any

22
“standard” to constrain the Governor’s alleged lawmaking authority and power to

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suspend and rewrite state law as he dictates.

85. KRS 39A.100(1) permits the Governor to declare that a state of

emergency exists so that he may exercise broad powers, including the authority “to

perform and exercise other functions, powers, and duties deemed necessary to

promote and secure the safety and protection of the civilian population.” KRS

39A.100(1)(j). And KRS 39A.180(2) provides that “[a]ll existing laws, ordinances, and

administrative regulations inconsistent with the provisions of KRS Chapters 39A to

39F, or of any order or administrative regulation issued under the authority of KRS

Chapters 39A to 39F, shall be suspended during the period of time and to the extent

that the conflict exists.” The provisions purport to give the Governor the power to

repeal and revise state statutes.

86. Here again, KRS Chapter 39A imposes neither any “policies” nor any

“standards ” to constrain the Governor’s discretion in what laws and regulations he

may suspend and what orders he may issue during a declared state of emergency.

87. Thus, to the extent that KRS Chapter 39A authorizes the unconditional

exercise of legislative authority and the suspension of laws enacted by the General

Assembly, KRS Chapter 39A violates Sections 15, 27, and 28 of the Kentucky

Constitution and is an unlawful delegation of lawmaking authority.

88. The Commonwealth therefore seeks a declaration that KRS 39A.100(1)

and KRS 39A.180(2) are unconstitutional delegations of lawmaking authority and

violate Sections 15, 27, and 28 of the Kentucky Constitution.

23
89. The Commonwealth seeks injunctive relief under CR 65, including a

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restraining order, a temporary injunction, and a permanent injunction, prohibiting

the Defendants from enforcing any of the Governor’s executive orders issued under

KRS Chapter 39A that purport to engage in lawmaking functions or suspend

statutes.

COUNT IV – DECLARATORY JUDGMENT AND INJUNCTIVE RELIEF:


The Governor’s Executive Orders violate §§ 1 and 2 of the Kentucky
Constitution and KRS Chapter 39A by implementing impermissible
restrictions on Kentuckians and businesses.

90. The Commonwealth incorporates each of the preceding paragraphs.

91. Section 1 of the Kentucky Constitution provides that Kentuckians are

“free and equal, and have certain inherent and inalienable rights,” such as the “right

of enjoying and defending their lives and freedom,” the “right of seeking and pursuing

their safety and happiness,” and the “right of acquiring and protecting property,” and

the “right of assembling together in a peaceable manner.”

92. Section 2 of the Kentucky Constitution provides that “[a]bsolute and

arbitrary power over the lives, liberty and property of freemen exists nowhere in a

republic, not even in the largest majority.” “Whatever is contrary to democratic

ideals, customs and maxims is arbitrary. Likewise, whatever is essentially unjust and

unequal or exceeds the reasonable and legitimate interests of the people is arbitrary.”

Kentucky Milk Marketing and Antimonopoly Comm’n v. Kroger Co., 691 S.W.2d 893,

899 (Ky. 1985).

93. Among other instances, arbitrary executive power is exercised when the

challenged action exceeds statutory authority, violates procedural due process, or

24
where the action is not supported by substantial evidence. See American Beauty

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Homes Corp. v. Louisville and Jefferson County Planning and Zoning Comm., 379

S.W.2d 450, 456 (Ky. 1964).

94. KRS 39A.100 requires the Governor to declare, in writing, that a state

of emergency exists prior to exercising the enumerated emergency powers set forth

in KRS 39A.100.

95. On March 6, 2020, Governor Beshear issued Executive Order 2020-215

declaring a State of Emergency and invoking his KRS 39A.100 powers, but he failed

to specifically define the emergency authorizing him to invoke any authority under

KRS Chapter 39A. At one point, the Governor suggested that emergency action was

necessary to “flatten the curve” to ensure the availability of healthcare resources. But

what is it now? The Governor won’t say. Yet he continues to wield broad and

unrestrained authority and issue orders governing the lives of Kentuckians.

96. Despite the lack of any clearly defined emergency, the Governor has

issued a series of restrictive executive orders that shuttered the Commonwealth’s

economy and dictated the manner in which Kentucky’s citizens could perform

everyday activities—like shopping, interacting with friends and loved ones, and other

basic activities.

97. The Governor’s executive orders are arbitrary and invalid because they

exceed his statutory authority, contain no procedural due process protections, and are

not supported by substantial evidence as to their scope.

25
98. Moreover, the “[u]nequal enforcement of the law, if it rises to the level

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of conscious violation of the principle of uniformity, is prohibited by [Section 2 of the

Kentucky Constitution].” Kroger Co., 691 S.W.2d at 899. The Governor’s executive

orders are arbitrary because they are enforced unequally, if at all.

99. In fact, although the Governor claims the authority to enforce his orders,

he has also repeatedly suggested that he does not plan to enforce those orders against

those parties challenging his orders before the courts. See, e.g., W.O. v. Beshear, No.

3:20-cv-23-GFVT, DE 30 at 12 (E.D. Ky. April 30, 2020).

100. Because the Governor claims to retain discretion to enforce his executive

orders and has provided no public notice or provisions explaining how and when his

order may be enforced, the Governor is exercising arbitrary power over the lives of

the Commonwealth’s citizens in violation of Sections 1 and 2 of the Kentucky

Constitution.

101. Moreover, because the Governor has not defined the “emergency” that is

the basis for his many orders, it is impossible to determine whether there is

substantial evidence to support the Governor’s determination that an “emergency”

exists or, for that matter, whether there is substantial evidence for any of the orders

Governor Beshear has purportedly issued under his KRS Chapter 39A authority.

102. Likewise, there is no mechanism, other than the Courts, by which to

challenge the Governor’s actions, such as through an administrative hearing process

or other hearing that would comply with the Kentucky Constitution’s due process

requirements.

26
103. As yet another example, KRS 39A.100(1)(h) permits the Governor to

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“prohibit or limit the sale or consumption of goods, excluding firearms and

ammunition.” The statute says nothing about prohibiting or limiting the sale and

provision of services. Yet, the Governor has shuttered barber shops, nail salons,

child-care centers, and a host of other service-oriented businesses without authority.

104. The right to carry on one’s trade or business is guaranteed by Section

1’s protection of the “right of acquiring and protecting property,” which Kentucky’s

high court has classified as economic liberty. See, e.g., Gen. Elec. Co. v. Am. Buyers

Co-op, Inc., 316 S.W.2d 354, 360-61 (Ky. 1958); City of Jackson v. Murray-Reed-Slone

& Co., 178 S.W.2d 847, 848 (Ky. 1944).

105. The Commonwealth therefore seeks a declaration under KRS Chapter

418 that the Governor’s executive orders and the Defendants’ actions violate Sections

1 and 2 of the Kentucky Constitution and KRS Chapter 39A, and that all orders

issued by the Governor in derogation thereof are arbitrary, invalid, and

unenforceable.

106. The Commonwealth seeks injunctive relief under CR 65, including a

restraining order, a temporary injunction, and a permanent injunction, prohibiting

the Defendants, or any person under their authority or acting in concert with them,

from attempting to enforce any of the Governor’s unlawful executive orders issued

under KRS Chapter 39A.

27
COUNT V – DECLARATORY JUDGMENT AND INJUNCTIVE RELIEF:

274A9B7A-ED2E-4430-8BA1-D5253C68F383 : 000033 of 000056


The Governor’s Orders violate KRS Chapter 13A and
§ 2 of the Kentucky Constitution.

107. The Commonwealth incorporates each of the preceding paragraphs.

108. Any person violating any provision of KRS Chapter 39A or an order

promulgated pursuant to that “chapter is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor.” KRS

39A.990.

109. A Class A misdemeanor is punishable by up to twelve months in jail, a

fine up to $500, or both. KRS 532.090(1); KRS 534.040(1), (2)(a).

110. Nonetheless, none of the Governor’s executive orders are easily

accessible or prominently advertised in a defined place known to the public. And none

of the executive orders—despite their far-reaching implications and the grave

consequences for contravening them—went through the KRS Chapter 13A

procedures for rulemaking.

111. In KRS Chapter 13A, Kentucky’s General Assembly expressly required

that any statement of law by any state officer that generally applies to the

Commonwealth’s citizens must be adopted as an administrative regulation. KRS

13A.010(1), (2); KRS 13A.100.

112. According to KRS 13A.100, “any administrative body that is empowered

to promulgate administrative regulations shall, by administrative regulation,

prescribe, consistent with applicable statutes . . . [e]ach statement of general

applicability, policy, procedure, memorandum, or other form of action that

28
implements; interprets; prescribes law or policy . . . or affects private rights or

274A9B7A-ED2E-4430-8BA1-D5253C68F383 : 000034 of 000056


procedures available to the public.”

113. The definition of “administrative body” is broad enough to encompass

every state officer—including the Commonwealth’s Chief Magistrate, the Governor.

KRS 13A.010(1).

114. The Governor’s executive orders—which broadly apply to nearly every

citizen of the Commonwealth and every activity of its citizens—are “statements of

general applicability, policy, procedures . . . or other form of action that implements

[or] prescribes law or policy [and] affects private rights or procedures available to the

public.” KRS 13A.100. They must, therefore, be promulgated under the provisions of

KRS Chapter 13A.

115. But neither the Governor nor his designees have promulgated their

orders under KRS Chapter 13A. In fact, in developing and implementing the

Executive Orders, the Governor did not use any of the forms of administrative

regulations authorized by KRS 13A.170, including the ordinary administrative

regulations, as defined in KRS 13A.180, or the emergency administrative regulations,

as set forth in KRS 13A.190.

116. Whereas KRS 39A.180 provides that orders under KRS Chapters 39A to

39F “have the full force of law, when, if issued by the Governor, the director, or any

state agency, a copy is filed with the Legislative Research Commission,” the public is

provided no notice that such orders have been filed with the Commission and there

is no publicly available resource to locate and view the orders filed with the

29
Commission. On the other hand, promulgation under KRS Chapter 13A requires

274A9B7A-ED2E-4430-8BA1-D5253C68F383 : 000035 of 000056


publication of all administrative regulations in the “Administrative Register of

Kentucky.” KRS 13A.050. The Register is available to the public, and proposed

regulations—whether amendments or emergency regulations are published

electronically to the Commission’s website.20

117. Kentuckians are expected, on a daily basis, to comply with ever-

changing rules that are issued by a single person, and the “official” source for such

rules, the Legislative Research Commission, does not publish the rules.

118. The Commonwealth therefore seeks a declaration under KRS Chapter

418 that the Governor’s executive orders must be promulgated through the

rulemaking procedures set forth in KRS Chapter 13A and that, because none of the

Governor’s orders have been promulgated consistent with that Chapter, that they are

null, void, and unenforceable. KRS 13A.120; KRS 13A.130; Ky. Const. § 2.

119. The Commonwealth seeks injunctive relief under CR 65, including a

restraining order, a temporary injunction, and a permanent injunction, prohibiting

the Defendants, or any person under their authority or acting in concert with them,

from attempting to enforce any of the Governor’s executive orders issued under KRS

Chapter 39A.

20 See Kentucky Administrative Regulations, available at


https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/law/kar/titles.htm (last visited June 30, 2020).

30
COUNT VI – DECLARATORY JUDGMENT AND INJUNCTIVE RELIEF:

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The indefinite nature of the state of emergency violates
§ 2 of the Kentucky Constitution.

120. The Commonwealth incorporates each of the preceding paragraphs.

121. KRS Chapter 39A does not provide an express time limit on a declared

state of emergency.

122. KRS 39A.100(1) contemplates that emergency powers may only be

exercised “during the period in which the state of emergency exists.”

123. Providing emergency powers to one person for an indefinite period of

time, while not providing a check on such powers, is arbitrary in violation of § 2 of

the Kentucky Constitution.

124. The Commonwealth therefore seeks a declaration under KRS Chapter

418 that KRS Chapter 39A is unconstitutional to the extent it does not have a

temporal limitation and does not have a check on the Governor’s power.

PRAYER FOR RELIEF

WHEREFORE, the Commonwealth of Kentucky ex rel. Attorney General

Daniel Cameron requests the following relief:

A. Expedited review under KRS 418.050 and CR 57;

B. A declaration that the Governor’s executive orders violate KRS

39A.100(1) because he is unable to demonstrate that a local emergency response

agency has determined that the situation is beyond its capabilities;

C. A declaration that the Governor’s executive orders violate Sections 1, 2,

15, 26, 27, and 28, of the Kentucky Constitution;

31
D. A declaration that KRS 39A.100(1) and KRS 39A.180(2) are

274A9B7A-ED2E-4430-8BA1-D5253C68F383 : 000037 of 000056


unconstitutional to the extent they impermissibly delegate lawmaking authority to

the Governor;

E. A declaration that the Governor’s orders issued pursuant to KRS

Chapter 39A must be promulgated under the provisions of KRS Chapter 13A;

F. A temporary restraining order, preliminary injunction, and permanent

injunction against Governor Beshear, Secretary Friedlander, and Commissioner

Stack, and any of their officers, agents, servants, employees, attorneys, and other

persons who are in active concert or participation with them, as further explained in

the motion(s) for injunctive relief that will be filed with the Court;

G. Any other relief to which the Commonwealth of Kentucky ex rel.

Attorney General Cameron is entitled.

Respectfully submitted,

Daniel Cameron
ATTORNEY GENERAL

/s/ Barry L. Dunn____________________


Barry L. Dunn (No. 93787) Office of the Attorney General
Deputy Attorney General 700 Capital Avenue, Suite 118
S. Chad Meredith (No. 92138) Frankfort, Kentucky 40601
Solicitor General Phone: (502) 696-5300
Brett R. Nolan (No. 95617) Barry.Dunn@ky.gov
Special Litigation Counsel Chad.Meredith@ky.gov
Aaron J. Silletto (No. 89035) Brett.Nolan@ky.gov
Heather L. Becker (No. 94360) Aaron.Silletto@ky.gov
Marc Manley (No. 96786) Heather.Becker@ky.gov
Assistant Attorneys General Marc.Manley@ky.gov

Counsel for the Commonwealth of


Kentucky ex rel. Attorney General Daniel
Cameron

32
274A9B7A-ED2E-4430-8BA1-D5253C68F383 : 000038 of 000056
Exhibit 1

274A9B7A-ED2E-4430-8BA1-D5253C68F383 : 000039 of 000056


274A9B7A-ED2E-4430-8BA1-D5253C68F383 : 000040 of 000056
274A9B7A-ED2E-4430-8BA1-D5253C68F383 : 000041 of 000056
274A9B7A-ED2E-4430-8BA1-D5253C68F383 : 000042 of 000056
274A9B7A-ED2E-4430-8BA1-D5253C68F383 : 000043 of 000056
Exhibit 2

274A9B7A-ED2E-4430-8BA1-D5253C68F383 : 000044 of 000056


274A9B7A-ED2E-4430-8BA1-D5253C68F383 : 000045 of 000056
274A9B7A-ED2E-4430-8BA1-D5253C68F383 : 000046 of 000056
274A9B7A-ED2E-4430-8BA1-D5253C68F383 : 000047 of 000056
274A9B7A-ED2E-4430-8BA1-D5253C68F383 : 000048 of 000056
VERSION 1.2 – Effective June 8, 2020
Requirements for Restaurants
In addition to the Healthy at Work Minimum Requirements, restaurants1
must meet the requirements below in order to reopen and remain open:

Social Distancing Requirements

• Restaurants that have provided food and beverage service via curbside, takeout,
and delivery services should continue to do so, to the greatest extent practicable,
in order to minimize the number of persons in the restaurant and contacts between
them.

• Restaurants should provide services and conduct business via phone or Internet to
the greatest extent practicable. Any restaurant employees who are currently able
to perform their job duties via telework (e.g., accounting staff) should continue to
telework.

• Restaurants should limit party size to ten (10) people or fewer. Persons not living
within the same household should not be permitted to sit at the same table.

• Restaurants must limit the number of customers present in any given restaurant to
33% of the maximum permitted occupancy of seating capacity, assuming all
individuals in the restaurant are able to maintain six (6) feet of space between each
other with that level of occupancy. This means no person can be within six (6) feet
of a person seated at another table or booth. If the restaurant is not able to
maintain six (6) feet of space between tables at 33% of capacity, the restaurant
must limit the number of individuals in the restaurant to the greatest number that
permits proper social distancing. Restaurants should consider installation of
portable or permanent non-porous physical barriers (e.g., plexiglass shields)
between tables.

• Restaurants should maximize use of outdoor seating. Restaurants must be able to


arrange seating so as to maintain six (6) feet of space between seated customers.
This means no person can be within six (6) feet of a person seated at another table.

• Restaurants should ensure social distancing by limiting customer movement


through the restaurant to the greatest extent practicable. Restaurants should inform
customers that they may travel to entries, exits, and the restroom, unless
circumstances (e.g. healthy and safety) require otherwise. Restaurants should to
the greatest extent practicable, modify the office’s traffic flow to minimize
contacts.

1
For purposes of these requirements, a “restaurant” is an entity that stores, prepares, serves, vends food
directly to the consumer or otherwise provides food for human consumption, and must hold a food service
permit in good standing and has table seating.
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• If a restaurant has more customers wishing to enter their business than is possible
under the current social distancing requirements of six (6) feet between all
individuals, the restaurant should establish a system for limiting entry and tracking
occupancy numbers. Once a restaurant has reached its capacity, it should permit a
new customer inside only after a previous customer has left the premises on a one-
to-one basis. Restaurants experiencing lines or waits outside their doors should
establish a safe means for customers to await entry, such as asking customers to
remain in their car and notifying them via phone when they are able to enter the
restaurant or demarking spots six (6) feet apart where customers can safely stand
without congregating.

• Restaurants should close children’s play areas.

• Restaurants should update floor plans for common dining areas, redesigning
seating arrangement to maximize the ability to social distance to the greatest
extent practicable.

• Restaurants should consider a reservations-only business model or call-ahead


seating to better space households and individuals.

• Restaurants should ensure employees wear face masks for any interactions with
customers, co-workers, or while in common travel areas of the business (e.g., aisles,
hallways, loading docks, breakrooms, bathrooms, entries and exits). Restaurant
employees are not required to wear face masks while alone in personal offices,
while more than six (6) feet from any other individual, or if doing so would pose a
serious threat to their health or safety.

• Restaurants should use disposable menus, napkins, table cloths, disposable


utensils, and condiments to the greatest extent practicable. Restaurants are
encouraged to use electronic menus.

• Linens, such as cloth hampers, cloth napkins, table cloths, wiping cloths, and work
garments including cloth gloves, may still be utilized in dining establishments
consistent with Food service regulations 4-801.11 and 4-802.11. Linens, cloth
gloves, and cloth napkins are to be laundered between uses to prevent the transfer
of pathogenic microorganisms between foods or to food-contact surfaces

• Restaurants should discontinue use of any self-service drink stations to the greatest
extent practicable. Restaurants continuing self-service drink stations should
remove any unwrapped or non-disposable items (e.g. straws or utensils), as well as
fruit (e.g. lemons), sweeteners, creamers, and any condiment containers that are
not in single- use, disposable packages.
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• Restaurants should discontinue use of salad bars and other buffet style dining to
the greatest extent practicable. If a restaurant cannot discontinue buffet style
dining, the restaurant must ensure that employees provide buffet service.
Restaurants should not permit customer self-service. Restaurants providing buffet
service should ensure appropriate sneeze guards are in-place and that employees
are equipped with gloves and other PPE as appropriate.

• Restaurants should ensure employees use digital files rather than paper formats
(e.g., documentation, invoices, inspections, forms, agendas) to the greatest extent
practicable.

• Restaurants should, to the greatest extent practicable, modify internal traffic flow
to minimize contacts between employees and customers.

• Restaurants should, to the greatest extent practicable, demarcate six feet of


distance between customers and employees except at the moment of payment
and/or exchange of food and drink.

• Restaurants should implement contactless payment options, pickup, and delivery to


the greatest extent practicable.

• Restaurants should ensure, to the greatest extent practicable, that any receipts can
be completed electronically by using e-signature technology for signatures or by
creating a procedure whereby restaurant employees can complete the receipt for
the customer within the customer’s view.

• Restaurants should reduce, to the greatest extent practicable, the number of


employees and customers entering, exiting, or gathering at one time. One
suggested method to accomplish this is by staggering the beginning and end times
of employee shifts. In addition, for customers, one possible method to limit
gathering is to allow only one individual or household unit to enter the restaurant
at a time.

• Restaurants that require employees to operate equipment or vehicles must, to the


greatest extent practicable, limit the number of employees riding in the vehicle
together. If riding in separate vehicles is not practicable then employees should
maximize social distancing and wear face masks in the vehicle. Thorough cleaning
and disinfecting vehicles after each trip is required.

• Restaurants must restrict access to common areas, to the greatest extent


practicable, in order to maximize social distancing and reduce congregating. These
common areas include, but are not limited to, break rooms, waiting areas, and bars.

• Restaurants with warehouses and loading docks must ensure minimal interaction
between drivers at loading docks, doorsteps, or other locations.
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• Restaurants should, to the greatest extent practicable, limit the number of
individuals in a restroom to ensure proper social distancing and ensure that
frequently touched surfaces are appropriately disinfected (e.g., door knobs and
handles).

• Restaurants should provide hand sanitizer, handwashing facilities, and tissues in


convenient locations to the greatest extent practicable.

• Restaurants should prohibit gatherings or meetings of employees of ten (10) or


more during work hours.

• Restaurants should discourage employees from sharing workstations or other


work- related items and utensils, to the greatest extent practicable (e.g., ink pens
and aprons).
• Restaurants should, to the greatest extent practicable, install floor decals in cashier
and queuing areas to establish safe waiting distance.

• Restaurants should remind third-party delivery drivers and any suppliers of the
social distancing requirements.

• Restaurants providing “grab and go” service should stock coolers tono more than minimum
levels to prevent excess touching of items.

Cleaning and Disinfecting Requirements


• Restaurants should ensure workstations and seating areas are properly cleaned
and ventilated.

• Restaurants should encourage employees to frequently wash their hands or use


hand sanitizer, which should be provided by the restaurant.

• Restaurants must ensure cleaning and sanitation of frequently touched surfaces


with appropriate disinfectants. Areas with frequently touched surfaces or items,
include all seating, table-tops, and other table-top items, door handles, phones,
pens, and keypads. Appropriate disinfectants include EPA registered household
disinfectants, diluted household bleach solution, and alcohol solutions containing
at least 60% alcohol. Restaurants must establish a cleaning and disinfecting process
that follows CDC guidelines when any individual is identified, suspected, or
confirmed COVID-19 case.

• Restaurants should ensure employees wipe their workstations/cash registers down


with disinfectant at the end of their shift or at any time they discontinue use of
their workstations/cash register for a significant period of time.

• Restaurants should ensure disinfecting wipes or other disinfectant are available


near shared equipment (e.g. in kitchen, wait stations, and hostess stations).
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• Restaurants should encourage customers to use hand sanitizer or wipes prior to
dining in the restaurant and immediately following their meal.

• Restaurants should ensure employees do not use cleaning procedures that could
re- aerosolize infectious particles. This includes, but is not limited to, avoiding
practices such as dry sweeping or use of high-pressure streams of air, water, or
cleaning chemicals.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)


Requirements

• Restaurants must ensure appropriate face coverings and other personal protective
equipment (PPE) is used by employees whenever they are near other employees or
customers so long as such use does not jeopardize the employees’ health or safety.
Restaurants shall provide PPE at no cost to employees and should offer instruction on
proper use of masks and PPE.

• Restaurants must require contractors, vendors, and drivers to wear face coverings or
masks while at the location.

• Restaurants should establish a policy as to whether to serve customers who do not


adhere to the business’s policy on requiring masks while in common areas. While
customers of course will have to remove their masks in order to eat and drink,
restaurants may choose not to serve those customers who refuse to wear a mask
while away from their booth/table (i.e. entering, exiting, going to the restroom) in
order to protect their employees and other customers.

• Restaurants must train employees to properly dispose of or disinfect PPE, inspect


PPE for damage, maintain PPE, and the limitations of PPE.

• Restaurants must ensure, to the greatest extent practicable, that employees use
gloves, along with any PPE normally used for routine job tasks, when cleaning
equipment, workspaces, and high-touch areas of the business.

• Restaurants must ensure employees wash their hands with soap and water and/or
use hand sanitizer frequently after any direct contact customers, and when engaging
in high touch activities.

• Restaurants must ensure, to the greatest extent practicable, that employees wear
protective face coverings during any delivery.
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Training and Safety Requirements

• Restaurants must place conspicuous signage at entrances and throughout the


restaurant alerting staff and customers to the required occupancy limits, six feet of
physical distance, and policy on face coverings. Signage should inform employees
and customers about good hygiene and new practices.

• Restaurants should establish procedures for disinfecting table tops, seating, and dining ware
(plates, bowls, utensils).

• Restaurants should post signage on entrance door that no one with a fever or
symptoms of COVID-19 is to be permitted in the restaurant.

• Restaurants should, to the greatest extent practicable, implement hours where


service can be safely provided to customers at higher risk for severe illness per CDC
guidelines. These guidelines are available at:
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019- ncov/faq.html#Higher-Risk

• Restaurants should ensure employees are informed that they may identify and
communicate potential improvements and/or concerns in order to reduce
potential risk of exposure at the workplace. All education and training must be
communicated in the language best understood by the individual receiving the
education and training.
COMMONWEALTH OF KENTUCKY

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BOONE CIRCUIT COURT
CASE NO. 20-CI-00678

FLORENCE SPEEDWAY, INC., et al.

Plaintiffs

and

Commonwealth of Kentucky ex rel.


Attorney General Daniel Cameron

Intervening Plaintiff

v.

NORTHERN KENTUCKY INDEPENDENT


HEALTH DISTRICT, et al.

Defendants

ORDER GRANTING THE COMMONWEALTH OF KENTUCKY EX REL.


ATTORNEY GENERAL DANIEL CAMERON’S MOTION TO INTERVENE

Attorney General Daniel Cameron having moved to intervene on behalf of the

Commonwealth of Kentucky as of right under Rule 24.01, and the Court having heard

the argument of counsel, and being otherwise sufficiently advised, hereby ORDERS:

1. The Commonwealth of Kentucky ex rel. Attorney General Daniel Cameron’s

Motion to Intervene under Rule 24.01 is GRANTED;

2. The Commonwealth of Kentucky ex rel. Attorney General Daniel Cameron is

hereby named an Intervening Plaintiff;

3. The Clerk shall file the Intervening Complaint in the record as of this date and

serve the Defendants;

1
4. The Defendants shall file a response to the Intervening Petition within ___

274A9B7A-ED2E-4430-8BA1-D5253C68F383 : 000055 of 000056


days; and

5. The Clerk and the parties shall update the caption and style of this case to

reflect the Attorney General’s intervention on behalf of the Commonwealth.

It is SO ORDERED this the __ day of _____, 2020.

____________________________________
Judge, Boone Circuit Court

2
CLERK’S CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE

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I certify that on July __, 2020, a copy of the above was filed with the Court and
served by U.S. Mail, postage prepaid, on the following:

Barry L. Dunn Jeffrey C. Mando


S. Chad Meredith Claire E. Parsons
Office of the Attorney General Olivia Amlung
700 Capital Avenue, Suite 118 40 West Pike Street
Frankfort, Kentucky 40601 Covington, KY 41011
Barry.Dunn@ky.gov Counsel for Northern Kentucky
Chad.Meredith@ky.gov Independent Health District
Counsel for the Commonwealth of
Kentucky

Christopher Wiest Thomas Bruns


25 Town Center Blvd, Suite 104 4750 Ashwood Drive, Suite 200
Crestview Hills, KY 41017 Cincinnati, OH 45241
Counsel for Plaintiff Counsel for the Plaintiff

Robert A. Winter, Jr. Steven Stack, M.D.


P.O. Box 175883 275 E. Main Street
Fort Mitchell, KY 41017 Frankfort, KY 40621
Counsel for the Plaintiff

Hon. Andrew Beshear, Governor Cabinet for Health and Family Services
Commonwealth of Kentucky 275 E. Main Street
700 Capitol Avenue, Suite 100 Frankfort, KY 40621
Frankfort, KY 40601

Secretary Eric Friedlander Dr. Lynne Saddler, M.D.,


Cabinet for Health and Family Services District Director of Health
275 E. Main Street Northern Kentucky Independent
Frankfort, KY 40621 Health District
8001 Veterans Memorial Drive
Florence, KY 41042

____________________________________
Clerk, Boone Circuit Court

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