San Jose Church Protesting Covid Health Orders Wants Fine Nixed

A San Jose church that was fined $2.87 million for violating Covid-19 public health orders Tuesday asked a California trial judge at a hearing to reconsider her tentative order granting summary judgment to Santa Clara County.

Santa Clara County Superior Court Judge Evette Pennypacker in the tentative ruling held the county demonstrated Calvary Chapel San Jose violated public health orders issued in the spring of 2020 requiring face masks and for entities to follow social distancing protocols.

The county showed the fines were constitutional and that the church failed to pay the fines, accruing late penalties, Pennypacker said. The court ...