Omaha businesswoman files lawsuit over city's smoking ban

[MonteSano]

An Omaha businesswoman has filed a lawsuit claiming the Omaha City Council acted improperly when it crafted and adopted the city's new smoking ban.

Katherine O'Connor, owner of O'Connor's Irish Pub, claims in the lawsuit filed Friday that the council violated Nebraska open meetings law when some members met privately with groups advocating the ban.

The smoking ban went into effect Oct. 2 for establishments that serve food. Bars that don't serve food, keno parlors and Horsemen's Park track have five years to implement the ban.

O'Connor said Friday that the partial ban has hurt her business because patrons can go to a bar that still allows smoking.


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