{"id":2618560,"date":"2026-06-24T14:49:01","date_gmt":"2026-06-24T18:49:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/vineyard-urges-supreme-court-to-halt-3-9-million-judgment-for-hosting-wine-tastings\/"},"modified":"2026-06-24T14:51:30","modified_gmt":"2026-06-24T18:51:30","slug":"vineyard-urges-supreme-court-to-halt-3-9-million-judgment-for-hosting-wine-tastings","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/vineyard-urges-supreme-court-to-halt-3-9-million-judgment-for-hosting-wine-tastings\/","title":{"rendered":"Vineyard urges Supreme Court to halt $3.9 million judgment for hosting wine tastings"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">26<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fvineyard-urges-supreme-court-to-halt-3-9-million-judgment-for-hosting-wine-tastings%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2618560&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>A California winery owner, Lindsay Hoopes of Hoopes Family Winery, is seeking the U.S. Supreme Court&#8217;s intervention to halt the collection of nearly $4 million in fines imposed by Napa County for hosting routine wine tastings, which she claims are properly licensed activities. Hoopes has filed an emergency petition arguing that the fines, totaling over $3.7 million-including $1.525 million in fines and $2.25 million in attorneys&#8217; fees-are excessive and threaten her personal and business assets, despite her adherence to licensing requirements. The county recently labeled her tastings as a &#8220;public nuisance,&#8221; leading to the fines. Hoopes warns that if the high court does not intervene, she faces liquidation of her winery and personal insolvency. Multiple lower courts have refused to pause the judgment, prompting her to appeal directly to the Supreme Court, which could decide on the petition soon. Her legal challenge raises notable Eighth Amendment questions regarding whether excessive fines can be collected before legal appeals are resolved and whether a defendant\u2019s ability to pay should be considered. The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/double-murderer-whom-biden-sprung-from-death-row-is-now-demanding-an-even-bigger-gift\/\" title=\"Double Murderer Whom Biden Sprung from Death Row Is Now Demanding an Even Bigger Gift\">case highlights ongoing debates<\/a> over constitutional protections against excessive penalties. meanwhile, the Supreme Court is also handling other major cases, with decisions expected in the upcoming week.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<article class=\"fn-body\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The owner of a Northern <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/california\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"60\">California<\/a> winery asked the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/supreme-court\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"203\">Supreme Court<\/a> to halt the collection of nearly $4 million in fines levied against it by Napa County, as she appeals the penalties the county imposed for hosting routine wine tastings. She says the fines, which she notes punish ordinary activity for which her business was properly licensed, exceed the value of the entire winery and her <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/candace-owens-slams-aoc-for-using-grandma-to-score-political-points\/\" title=\"Candace Owens Slams AOC For Using Grandma To \u2018Score Political Points\u2019\">personal net worth<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Lindsay Hoopes, proprietor of Hoopes Family Winery Partners, filed an <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.supremecourt.gov\/DocketPDF\/25\/25A1429\/413587\/20260618133137634_Hoopes%20Application%20for%20Emergency%20Stay%20FINAL.pdf\">emergency petition<\/a> to the Supreme Court earlier this month asking the high court to pause the collection of a $1,525,000 fine and $2,250,000 in attorneys\u2019 fees that a California trial court awarded the county, while Hoopes appeals the judgment. Hoopes claims she was fined the exorbitant amounts for hosting wine tastings at her vineyard, which the county recently found to be a \u201cpublic nuisance,\u201d despite her having all proper licenses and approvals to conduct the tastings.<\/p>\n<section class=\"explore-more-section\" id=\"wex-recommended-widget\">\n<div class=\"magazine-container single\">\n<h1 class=\"magazine-title mt-2\">Recommended Stories<\/h1>\n<p>             <i class=\"fa-solid fa-play icon\"><\/i>         <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-grid\">\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/supreme-court\/4620784\/clarence-thomas-dhs-win-denying-criminal-immigrants-us-entry\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Clarence Thomas hands DHS win on denying criminal immigrants entry into the country<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/supreme-court\/4620560\/supreme-court-denies-rastafarian-lawsuit-prison-cut-dreadlocks\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Supreme Court denies Rastafarian\u2019s lawsuit against prison officials for cutting his dreadlocks<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/supreme-court\/4619592\/texas-supreme-court-halt-app-store-age-verification-law\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Texas urges Supreme Court to reject effort to halt app store age verification law<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Hoopes urged the Supreme Court justices to pause the judgment while she appeals the adverse ruling from the Napa Superior Court, warning that if they do not, she will have to immediately pay the nearly $4 million judgment, which \u201cfar exceeds both the property\u2019s lifetime revenues and her personal net worth and will force liquidation of the property.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap\" style=\"min-height:5px;\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" style=\"display:none;\">Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-15\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-1\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThe County is already aggressively pursuing execution and collection of the judgment, even though on appeal, Hoopes is challenging these fines as unconstitutionally excessive under the Eighth Amendment, and that claim both <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/alabama-ag-ketanji-brown-jackson-wants-fundamental-redesign-of-criminal-justice-system\/\" title=\"Alabama AG: Ketanji Brown Jackson Wants &#039;Fundamental Redesign&#039; of Criminal Justice System\">raises important questions<\/a> on which lower courts are split and has merit,\u201d Hoopes\u2019s lawyers said in the petition to the high court.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cIf this Court does not act to preserve the status quo, the County will gleefully execute the judgment before Hoopes\u2019s appeal is resolved, the small family winery will likely be liquidated, and Ms. Hoopes will be driven into personal insolvency and may even lose her home, and they will lose their opportunity for complete relief,\u201d the petition continues.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Multiple state courts denied Hoopes\u2019s request to pause the hefty judgment pending appeal, leading her to the Supreme Court for a last-ditch effort to postpone the penalty issued by the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/jailed-u-s-marine-is-arrested-and-put-behind-bars-after-criticizing-afghanistan-withdrawal\/\" title=\"Jailed! U.S. Marine is arrested and put behind bars after criticizing Afghanistan withdrawal\">state trial court<\/a>. Hoopes\u2019s lawyers argued in the petition that there are two key Eighth Amendment questions that the high court could resolve with this case, including whether a defendant can be required to pay an excessive fine before a legal challenge to it under the Eighth Amendment can be heard, along with whether courts \u201cmust consider a defendant\u2019s ability to pay in the excessive fines analysis.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap\" style=\"min-height:5px;\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" style=\"display:none;\">Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-16\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-2\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/supreme-court\/4562772\/major-supreme-court-decisions-remainder-term\/\">THE MAJOR SUPREME COURT DECISIONS REMAINING FOR THIS TERM<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Supreme Court could request responses from Napa County\u2019s lawyers or issue a ruling on the emergency petition at any time.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">On the high court\u2019s merits docket, there are 12 cases remaining from the current term that are awaiting rulings in various key cases, including regarding President Donald Trump\u2019s birthright citizenship order, late-arriving mail ballots, and <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >state laws barring biological males<\/a> from women\u2019s sports. The Supreme Court is next scheduled to issue opinions on Thursday, with rulings in all of the outstanding cases expected within the next week.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap\" style=\"min-height:5px;\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" style=\"display:none;\">Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-17\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-3\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Winery owner seeks Supreme Court halt on $4M Napa fines<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2638,"featured_media":2618561,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/AP26032610777085.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[32275,9698,81669],"class_list":["post-2618560","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-supreme-court","tag-vineyard","tag-wine-tastings"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/AP26032610777085.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2618560","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2638"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2618560"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2618560\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2618564,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2618560\/revisions\/2618564"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2618561"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2618560"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2618560"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2618560"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}