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A year later, Cozy Inn's lawsuit costs Salina $536 thousand

SALINA, Kan. (KSNW) — In 2024, the owner of Salina's Cozy Inn restaurant opened a lawsuit against the city of Salina. After a year of legal squabbling, the arguments remain largely the same. However, costs are mounting and this is causing some controversy. For the people in and around Salina, the century-old restaurant is gaining traction but is now being thrown into uncertainty. 'It's been there for over 100 years and it's been pretty popular,' Tabatha Kirchner said. Walnut Valley Festival announces 2025 lineup of new and returning artists Kirchner grew up in Salina and recalls the Cozy Inn's status as a center of attention for the city. 'When I get on TikTok, there can be videos on my 'For You' page of people going to Cozy Inn from all over,' she said. The restaurant's legal team cites free speech laws as the basis for their case. 'This case is incredibly important and raises very important First Amendment issues. It's about protecting Steve Howards and the Cozy Inn's ability to speak their mind and paint their mural,' Sam MacRoberts, litigation director for the Kansas Justice Institute, said. Salina officials declined an on-camera interview but did answer questions. They said they value transparency but remain hesitant to provide any official statement regarding the ongoing lawsuit. 'This case isn't about money. This question really is about the First Amendment and protecting Steve Howard's one-of-a-kind mural,' MacRoberts said. Despite the circumstances, Salina residents are optimistic that the restaurant will maintain its status as a city attention-grabber. 'Like I said, as it's getting more popular on Facebook, For You Pages on TikTok, Instagram, it's definitely drawing a lot more people in,' Kirchner said. The case is still open, and litigation remains ongoing. Legal representatives say it's unclear when a judgment will be made. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.