An Omaha pool hall has won a round in the court fight against Nebraska's smoking ban. A judge on Tuesday refused to find Big John's Billiards Inc. in contempt.
Big John's has been fighting the statewide smoking ban since it went into effect in 2009. In October, Big John's put out ashtrays and set up signs warning that it's a "smoker-friendly pool hall."
Douglas County prosecutors soon filed a motion asking Judge Jodi Nelson to hold Big John's in contempt and order it not to permit smoking.
Big John's attorney told Nelson on Tuesday that she had never ordered the business not to allow smoking nor barred it from setting up the signs. The judge agreed and overruled the motion.
