The Los Angeles City Attorney’s office announced on May 14, 2020, that it has filed criminal charges against 60 businesses across Los Angeles that were operating in violation of Los Angeles' Safer At Home Order. The owners of these businesses face criminal misdemeanor charges, and the businesses could lose their licenses to operate. The businesses facing criminal charges are those that have been deemed nonessential by the city, including tobacco stores, gyms, hair salons, beauty supply stores and a car wash. A complete list can be found here . Many of the business owners interviewed by local outlets shared that they felt they had not been provided with any warning, rather they were visited by the Los Angeles Police Department, given a citation and shut down.
 
In announcing the criminal charges, Los Angeles City Attorney Mike Feuer warned that he intends to continue to enforce the Safer at Home Orders, as follows: “ As we begin the task of carefully reopening Los Angeles, my office will continue to be vigilant in enforcing the Safer at Home Order, ensuring that non-essential businesses open only after our health experts say it’s safe to do so."
 
Mayor Garcetti tweeted on May 13, 2020, that "Our Safer at Home order will remain in place beyond May 15. Depending on public health conditions, we will continue to adjust the order to safely allow more businesses to operate and more people to get back to work."

As of right now, no official end date has been identified. Accordingly, non-essential businesses should remain closed until further notice from the City. The stakes are very high and non-essential businesses that defy the City's order face criminal charges and losing their license to operate. 
 
We will continue to keep you updated on any major COVID-19 related developments that impact the workplace. If you have any questions about when and how to legally re-open, please call your firm contact at 818-508-3700 or visit us online at www.brgslaw.com. 


Sincerely,
Richard S. Rosenberg
Katherine A. Hren
Stephanie B. Kantor
Ballard Rosenberg Golper & Savitt, LLP