Three men who sued Gov. Gretchen Whitmer over a ban on powerboating, which was enacted to safeguard against spreading the COVID-19 virus, will drop their lawsuit, according to their attorney.
The lawsuit, filed on April 20 in federal court, argued that Whitmer’s restriction on the use of motorboats was an unconstitutional breach of the plaintiffs' freedoms.
Whitmer banned powerboating on April 11, leaving open nonmotorized boating, such as sailboats and paddleboats.
“My clients are pleased with the governor’s change of course, and we anticipate dismissing the litigation,” William Sikkel IV, attorney with the Holland-based law firm Sikkel and Associates, told the Holland Sentinel.
The governor lifted the ban on powerboating on April 24, extending a stay-at-home order to May 28, and also lifted previous restrictions on businesses, including landscaping, garden centers and activities such as travel to a second home.
“I think it’s fair to say that the governor heard the collective voices of many Michigan residents on this issue,” Sikkel said, according to the Holland Sentinel. “The order brings Michigan in line with all the other Midwestern states, which permit boating and other recreational activities if they can be done while practicing social distancing.”
The Michigan United Conservation Clubs filed a similar lawsuit in federal court. Organization members said they had been cited by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources for violations of the motorboat ban.
Whitmer, a Democrat, has come under criticism in recent weeks from conservatives, including President Donald Trump, for carrying the restrictions too far. Whitmer has insisted that the best way to end the pandemic is to continue social distancing and staying at home.
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