Although she followed all the rules for restaurants set out in Arizona's executive order, some Euro Pizza patrons stopped in public spaces outside her restaurant to eat their food. But rather than holding those individuals accountable, city officials and law enforcement officers came after Merita, charging her with a crime for not policing public spaces. 

Fortunately, Goldwater's American Freedom Network—a national network of volunteer attorneys in all 50 states who defend Americans' constitutional rights—was there to help Merita. Thanks to its efforts, charges against Merita have been dropped, bringing an end to the case and, hopefully, an end to this type of abuse of power by the city. Merita's story received coverage in the New York Times and the Arizona Republic, among other outlets.