Lawsuit says Atlantic City casino workers are exposed to harmful secondhand smoke

The United Auto Workers and another group have filed a lawsuit against New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy and the state’s health commissioner, claiming that a loophole in state law puts casino workers at risk from secondhand smoke. The lawsuit alleges that Murphy and the health commissioner have failed to protect casino workers by excluding them from the Smoke-Free Air Act. The lawsuit argues that this exclusion is unconstitutional and denies workers their right to safety and equal protection. The United Auto Workers union and a group called Casino Employees Against Smoking’s (Harmful) Effects filed the lawsuit, seeking a declaration that the exclusion is unconstitutional. The New Jersey Health Department and Murphy’s office declined to comment on the pending litigation.