Judge Assigned in Lawsuit Filed Against Boone County Health Director

A judge is now assigned to a lawsuit filed by a business owner seeking to overturn COVID-19 related restrictions in Boone County.

Judge Brouck Jacobs was assigned to the case yesterday where Paul Prevo and his Columbia business, Tiger Tots is suing the Boone County Health Department Director Stephanie Browning, asking that local COVID-19 reopening restrictions that are more strict than those issued statewide be ended.

Prevo is asking for a temporary restraining order or an injunction.

The lawsuit claims the county’s health department director does have he authority to restrict healthy residents’ movement or order businesses to close.

The lawsuit maintains Browning is violating local and state laws and the U.S. Constitution with the order.

A counselor for Boone County said the County will not be commenting on this pending litigation.